The Information Minister has reiterated that door for talks to reach to a political agreement, within the purview of the Constitution, with the Opposition is always open.
Hasanul Haq Inu made the remarks at a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka on Friday.
He said candidates had already launched electoral campaign but the BNP and it ally Jamaat-e-Islami were carrying out sabotage, boycotting the elections.
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The President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, an ally of the Awami-League led Grand Alliance, dubbed the BNP’s demand for cancelling the polls schedule as “irrational and unconstitutional.”
Inu said there was sufficient time to reach an understanding before the announcement of the schedule.
“They (the BNP) knew that the election should be held by Jan 24, otherwise the Constitution will be violated.”
The Information Minister said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had wasted time by evading dialogue.
He said election was not the target of the Opposition, their target was to foil the trial of the war criminals.
He said BNP should cut off its ties with Jamaat and stop sabotage if it wants to join election.
Inu said the 10th parliamentary election would not be held to occupy power but to uphold the Constitution.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said on Thursday there was no scope for the Opposition to take part in the Jan 5 polls.
She had said the government would hold fresh elections dissolving [the 10th] Parliament if the parties reached a settlement through negotiations.
She had, however, asked the Opposition leader to stop killing to contest the polls.
Source: Bd news24
