Renewing her demand for a non-party caretaker government to hold an acceptable and participatory election, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Sunday said there would be no election in the country under incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports UNB.
“Still, there’s time. You’ve the majority in Parliament  restore the caretaker government system by amending the Constitution. There’ll be election and that will be held only under a non-party and neutral government. And a democratic government will be there in place after the polls,” she said.
The BNP chief was speaking at a convention of pro-BNP groups of professionals at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the afternoon.
Khaleda said people desperately wanted an election in the country and they wanted such an election which would be free, fair and neutral. “Such a fair election can’t be held under you (Hasina),” she said.
The leader of the opposition said how they could expect that the election would be held neutrally as the government already imposed a ban on holding rallies and public meetings.
“We won’t take part in any election under this government,” she said.
“Of course, there’ll be an election in the country and a democratic government will be there in place as we don’t want military rule,” Khaleda went on.
The former premier said as days were going by, public support was mounting in favour of a non-party neutral government for overseeing the next national election. “The more you will delay, the more you’ll get isolated from the people. You (Hasina) and your party will be affected due to the delay.”
Apparently throwing a challenge to the Prime Minister, Khaleda said: “If you think you’re still popular or your party has the popularity, let’s have an equal field. People will ultimately give their verdict.”
Criticising the Prime Minister’s election campaign by helicopters, the BNP chief said there was no sign of election, but the electioneering was on by the PM by helicopter.
“Your boat has already developed cracks. No sailor will be there in your boat,” Khaleda quipped.
After a daylong drama, Dhaka Metropolitan Police permitted the BNP-backed Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad to hold their programme on certain conditions.
Earlier in the morning, the conference centre authorities had cancelled the event following a police ban on holding meetings, rallies, processions and human chains. The Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad had booked the centre to hold its annual convention.
Source: Financial Exp-ress
In saying “There’ll be election and that will be held only under a non-party and neutral government” Begum Zia has simply echoed what, per recent opinion polls, 90% of Bangladeshis aspire for!