‘BNP will be forced to join election’

He made the comment after a meeting with the British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson at his office on Tuesday.

“The BNP has been stating that it will not participate in the election if it is not held under the supervision of a non-party and neutral government. But we can assume from their speeches and statements that they have deviated to some extent from the demand,” said Mahmud.

He is hopeful about BNP contesting the next elections held under the interim government.

“BNP will participate in the elections bowing under pressure from its leaders and activists.”

Mahmud made fun of the opposition’s repeated ‘lame threats’ of going for tougher movements against the government after national holidays-such as Muslim religious festivals Eid-ul Azha and Eid-ul Fitr.

“Now we will wait for them to call for a tougher movement after the next election.”

The 15th constitutional amendment for the first time has made it possible for a party to stay in power during election. The 10th national election is set to be held with the ruling Awami League still running the government.

BNP has been opposing the amendment stating that free and fair election is not possible under a partisan government. The government is bound to hold the election in the period between Oct 25 and Jan 24.

BNP has been demanding that the constitutional provision for a caretaker government to oversee the national election be reinstated. AL has discarded the demand.

Mahmud said the British diplomat had called on him to talk about the procedures of the next election. He told the diplomat that the election would be held as per the amended Constitution.

He said the door, however, was open for discussions with the BNP on issues like the format of the interim government or strengthening of the Election Commission.

He is hopeful about a credible election participated by the opposition and over 50 percent of the voters.