BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has warned that the government will be forced to sit for talks with her party over an interim election.
Addressing a rally in Jamalpur on Saturday, Khaleda, who leads the 20-Party Alliance, claimed the Awami League-led government was afraid of the BNP.
The BNP-led alliance, which boycotted the Jan 5 polls, has been calling for a dialogue over holding an interim poll but Sheikh Hasina’s government has been shooting down the calls.
Khaleda threatened to announce ‘new programmes’ after the next Eid-ul-Azha if her call is rejected this time.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday dismissed chances of a dialogue and a mid-term election.
“Why would we need [an interim election]?… why a dialogue is needed?” Hasina wondered.
Replying to her, Khaleda said: “You (Hasina) must organise an election under a non-party government as a free and fair election is impossible under the Awami League.”
Khaleda’s party stayed away from the 10th national polls demanding a non-party neutral body’s supervision. The Awami League had scrapped the Constitutional provision through the 15th Amendment.
“No tactics would work. You must sit for talks with the BNP,” she thundered.
Source: bdnews24
