After exchanging views with the Election Commission, Awami League presidium member Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan has said it is not written in the constitution, nor is it written in any law, that elections must be held with the participation of BNP.
He said these in response to questions from journalists on Saturday.
Faruk Khan said: "We have observed in various countries worldwide that many political parties choose not to participate in elections when they lack the capacity, public support, or confidence from the people.
"BNP is a party of criminal. Their activities are incoherent and resemble those of miscreants groups, rather than typical political party programs," he also added.
"Awami League never commits anarchy in elections. We believe that an election will be held in accordance with the constitution. Voters will go to the polling station to vote. Only the political parties who are nominal, who have no voters, can say such things. We think there is a fair environment for elections in Bangladesh,” Faruk added.
Thirteen registered political parties participated in the exchange meeting. Opposition parties including BNP have boycotted this meeting. Leaders of political parties came to the Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban around 10am on Saturday.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal presided over the meeting and the election commissioners were present. In the afternoon, the Election Commission exchanged views with other political parties.
According to the constitution, parliamentary election must be held within 90 days before the end of the five-year term of parliament. The term of the current parliament ends on January 29, 2024 while the 90-day count starts from November 1, 2023.
The Election Commission said that it is preparing to announce the schedule of the national election in mid-November and hold the election in January.
Earlier in July 2022, the EC held a dialogue with the political parties to prepare the action plan for the 12th national election while few political parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not attend the dialogue.
