The BNP is unwilling to hold any talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claiming that she does not live up to her commitments.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office on Tuesday, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also hit out at the prime minister for her inconsistent comments about political talks in 2018 and the next election and warned that the BNP will not make any compromise on the question of a neutral election.
“We will not engage in any talks with her. Why should we hold a dialogue with her when she does not keep her word? That is why we did not talk about dialogue for once,” he said.
Fakhrul also said they will have talks with those who put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail before the election in a false case for no reason.
Earlier on Monday, the prime minister in a press conference ruled out the possibility of talks with the BNP ahead of the general election.
"With whom will we hold talks? We held a dialogue before the 2018 election. What was its result? They did nothing except make the election questionable," she said.
Reacting to her remarks, Fakhrul said they long ago turned down the possibility of talks with the government. “The Awami League will be held responsible if the next election becomes uncertain or if something worse happens in the next election.”
He said the people want a change as their backs have been pushed against the wall. “So we will not make any compromise on the question of an acceptable election.”
The BNP leader said the prime minister's remark on talks in 2018 is nothing but a travesty of truth. “We also have the same question about the outcome of the talks. The prime minister, no matter how she came to power, committed in front of all and told the media that the government would not interfere with the election (in 2018) and the police would no longer arrest, file fresh cases and repress anyone until the election. Just three days later (after the talks), BNP leaders and activists across the country were forced to flee their homes in the face of repression by the police.”
Fakhrul also recalled that his convoy was attacked when he went to the electoral area in his home district, Thakurgaon. “Being the secretary general of the BNP, my vehicle and the convoy came under attack when I first entered my area (during the last general election), and the police just played the role of a silent spectator.”
He said the government also arrested many BNP leaders and activists by hatching different plots and setting fire to election offices and motorcycles, forcing the BNP leaders and activists to leave their houses and areas.
“Just three days before the election, all my top election workers were arrested in Thakurgaon, and the members of different intelligence agencies, including the DGFI and NSI, took position all around my house there. This was my situation. Our 21 candidates were arrested and jailed before the election while many others could not come out of their homes,” the BNP leader said.
“After these things, Sheikh Hasina questioned what was the result of the dialogue. You (PM) know the result as you know what have you done. So when she says these things, she ultimately denies the truth, cheats people and misleads them. She has been suffering from extreme arrogance, going beyond the basic tenets of democracy,” Fakhrul said.
Under such circumstances, the BNP leader asked how can the prime minister expect political parties to go to polls when she remains in the government. “Not only the BNP, but all political parties are now saying that it is not possible to join polls under this government. Even, the CPB has also said that it will not go to the elections under this government.”
He urged the prime minister to quit handing over power to a caretaker government if she is brave and confident enough that the people love her.
Fakhrul also said they will accept whoever comes to power through a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.
Referring to the prime minister's remarks that no pressure will work on her, he said it has manifested that she has no responsibility towards the country and its people. “She also has no feelings about the future of the country and to make it a functional state.”
The BNP leader said different countries are mounting pressure on the government for a credible election as the Awami League resorted to all sorts of vote rigging, vote fraud and terrorism in the last two elections to stay in power illegally obstructing people from going to the polling stations.
Fakhrul said the Awami League knows very well that they will not be able to retain power through a fair election as the country's people are not with them.
“That is why they are creating a situation so that no one from outside the country can interfere in the election of our country and no one can talk about it… the foreigners who are coming here are saying that they want to see a fair election. They (govt) are assuring the foreigners that everything is fine here and the Election Commission is independent and can arrange a fair election. But what they (govt) are telling the foreigners are lies and the travesty of truth,” he observed.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the government can take steps for the formation of a caretaker government through discussions with the political parties.
He said they want a level-playing field and a healthy election atmosphere so that people can exercise their right to franchise. "Create the election atmosphere, only then you can say why we are not going to polls.”
Fakhrul also said it is undeniable that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the greatest sons of this country. “I feel bad the daughter of such a great man has pushed the entire nation towards destruction.”
