BNP will join polls for lack of alternatives: AL

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has expressed optimism that the BNP would join the next general elections under the incumbent Sheikh Hasina government for its own interests. “The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, will join the national polls under the Hasina government as she has no other alternative. Besides, her party won’t be able to stop the national election,” he said yesterday at his secretariat office. Tofail, who is also the Awami League (AL) advisory council member, was talking to reporters after holding a meeting with Singapore high commissioner Derek Loh. The veteran AL leader said the BNP had failed to foil the general election on January 5 in 2014. “The party won’t repeat the same mistake this time. But even if they don’t take part in the polls, it’ll be held on time,” he added.

Replying to a question on Khaleda Zia’s demand of holding the next general polls under a neutral and non-partisan government, Tofail said: “The election will be held under the AL government as per the Constitution. The BNP government will never return to power.”

Responding to a question over Army deployment with magistracy power in the national polls, Tofail said the defence forces had been given magistracy power in the 2001 general elections and it had benefited the BNP. “The Army will assist the civil administration during the polls. Why will the Army have to be given magistracy power?” he wondered.

In another programme in the city, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said: “Now, we see courtesy and ethics only in banners, signboards and posters. But, there is no ethics and courtesy in politics these days.”

The AL has been trying to bring back ethics and courtesy to politics, he added.

Quader, who is also the minister for road transport and bridges, said: “We won’t hold any programme against the BNP rally. On November 18, the civil society will hold a programme to celebrate Unesco’s declaration. It’s not the Awami League’s programme.”

He alleged that the BNP had organised arson attacks, killed people and given shelter to militants in the past. “I don’t know how they claim to usher in ethics and courtesy to politics,” he said.

In another programme in Kushtia, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that Khaleda Zia had misled the nation by making false and untrue comments about the politics of vengeance during the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

“Khaleda Zia herself introduced the politics of reprisal with firing and forcing many government officials to go on retirement after assuming power in 2001. And now she is asking the AL to leave such politics!” he added.  Hanif inaugurated the newly built Sheikh Hasina Hall at Kushtia Government College.

Asked about the introduction of EVMs, the AL leader said the BNP is against EVMs in the next election as it has enrolled 1.30 crore fake voters in the voters’ list.

BNP will join polls for lack of alternatives: AL

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has expressed optimism that the BNP would join the next general elections under the incumbent Sheikh Hasina government for its own interests. The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, will join the national polls under the Hasina government as she has no other alternative. Besides, her party wont be able to stop the national election, he said yesterday at his secretariat office. Tofail, who is also the Awami League (AL) advisory council member, was talking to reporters after holding a meeting with Singapore high commissioner Derek Loh. The veteran AL leader said the BNP had failed to foil the general election on January 5 in 2014. The party wont repeat the same mistake this time. But even if they dont take part in the polls, itll be held on time, he added. Replying to a question on Khaleda Zias demand of holding the next general polls under a neutral and non-partisan government, Tofail said: The election will be held under the AL government as per the Constitution. The BNP government will never return to power. Responding to a question over Army deployment with magistracy power in the national polls, Tofail said the defence forces had been given magistracy power in the 2001 general elections and it had benefited the BNP. The Army will assist the civil administration during the polls. Why will the Army have to be given magistracy power? he wondered. In another programme in the city, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said: Now, we see courtesy and ethics only in banners, signboards and posters. But, there is no ethics and courtesy in politics these days. The AL has been trying to bring back ethics and courtesy to politics, he added. Quader, who is also the minister for road transport and bridges, said: We wont hold any programme against the BNP rally. On November 18, the civil society will hold a programme to celebrate Unescos declaration. Its not the Awami Leagues programme. He alleged that the BNP had organised arson attacks, killed people and given shelter to militants in the past. I dont know how they claim to usher in ethics and courtesy to politics, he said. In another programme in Kushtia, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that Khaleda Zia had misled the nation by making false and untrue comments about the politics of vengeance during the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Khaleda Zia herself introduced the politics of reprisal with firing and forcing many government officials to go on retirement after assuming power in 2001. And now she is asking the AL to leave such politics! he added. Hanif inaugurated the newly built Sheikh Hasina Hall at Kushtia Government College. Asked about the introduction of EVMs, the AL leader said the BNP is against EVMs in the next election as it has enrolled 1.30 crore fake voters in the voters list.