Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, a presidium member of the ruling Awami League and the minister for agriculture, has said the BNP declined an offer to participate in the upcoming election in exchange for the immediate release of its detained leaders.
Speaking in an interview on the private television channel Channel 24 aired on Sunday, the seasoned politician said authorities had made various efforts to encourage the BNP's participation in the election.
According to the minister, the detention of BNP leaders was strategically planned to maintain stability in the country.
He argued that the presence of vehicles on the roads during hartals or strikes was evidence that the nation was unaffected by political turmoil. Razzaque questioned whether such normalcy could be observed if around 20,000 BNP leaders and activists had not been apprehended.
Highlighting the Election Commission's persistent calls for BNP participation in the polls, Razzaque emphasized the government's commitment to an inclusive election.
The BNP alleges that the ruling Awami League has unlawfully arrested over 20,000 of its leaders and activists on false charges across Bangladesh.
The opposition party maintains that fair and impartial elections cannot be conducted under the Awami League administration.
