The BNP has said Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s remarks on its demand for a fresh election under a non-party government, is ‘unacceptable’.
“The present Parliament has been formed through a voter-less election. It is not constitutional,” BNP Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman said on Thursday at a discussion at the National Press Club.
At the meeting of the ruling party’s Central Working Committee on Wednesday, Syed Ashraf had said his party had no intention to leave power before its constitutional tenure ended on Jan 28, 2019.
“Another election will take place after Jan 28, 2019. We are preparing for that election.”
Ashraf also said the Awami League will not give in to any form of pressure, domestic or foreign.
His remarks came a day after the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on the current political and economic situation in Bangladesh.
Mahbubur Rahman said, “Yesterday (Wednesday) Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraf said no polls will be held before five years. How can he say that? He does not live in an isolated island. We live in the global village.”
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, at the US Senate hearing on Tuesday, had warned that the ‘flawed’ national election of Jan 5 had put ‘strategically important’ Bangladesh at risk of instability.
Rahman claimed “the whole world” said that electorates did not cast their votes in Jan 5 elections. Everyone in Bangladesh and elsewhere were demanding a free and fair election as soon as possible, he added.
The former BNP MP questioned the legality of the 10th Parliament. “People rejected the polls. This Parliament is standing on a quicksand.”
“The only way to end this crisis is to hold a free and fair poll as soon as possible where all political parties will participate… dialogue is needed for this.”
He also urged the government to sit for unconditional talks with an open mind.
“Talks will lead to a solution,” he emphasised.
Source: Bd news24