BNP wants PM talks on poll-time govt

The BNP wants to discuss the issue of election-time government with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said this at a press conference, following a joint meeting at the party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the city, yesterday (Monday). He also said the BNP would put forward an outline to the Premier to discuss the issue. “We will call upon the Prime Minister to take the initiative for the discussion for holding a free, fair and impartial election,” he added. The government alone will be responsible if it does not take the initiative, he said.
About the newly-constituted Election Commission (EC), the BNP leader said the President has done whatever he was supposed to do. “People have realised that a free and fair election is not possible without an election-time neutral government,” he said. Fakhrul said the chief election commissioner (CEC) is not an “eligible person”, but there are many things regarding the general election. “So, the matter can be looked into later on,” he added.
Asked whether the BNP would take part in the election under the present commission, the BNP leader said it is not a matter to discuss now, but the party will take part in local government polls like the previous years. Replying to a question, Fakhrul said no meeting was held to discuss who will steer the party if chairperson Khaleda Zia is sentenced. He termed such reports as “imaginary”.
 On the allegation of graft in the Padma Bridge project, the BNP leader said corruption is widespread and everywhere. The World Bank (WB) has not changed its stand on the allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge project. It has not said that there was no corruption, he added.
 The BNP senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, was present on the occasion.  Earlier, the joint meeting adopted a two-day programme to mark Language Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day.  As part of the programme, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit the graves of language martyrs at the Azimpur graveyard and place a wreath at the Shaheed Minar on the morning of February 21. The BNP will also hold a meeting at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, on February 20. Besides, the party will hoist national and party flags at half mast at party offices across the country in observance of the day.
 The BNP secretary general announced the programme after the joint meeting.  Speaking at a function at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy claimed that the Prime Minister cannot hold the next general election, if the BNP does not take part in it. “But the BNP will not take part in the polls under Sheikh Hasina because a neutral election is not possible under her. Elections are not safe under a political government,” he added.

BNP wants PM talks on poll-time govt

The BNP wants to discuss the issue of election-time government with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said this at a press conference, following a joint meeting at the party headquarters at Naya Paltan in the city, yesterday (Monday). He also said the BNP would put forward an outline to the Premier to discuss the issue. We will call upon the Prime Minister to take the initiative for the discussion for holding a free, fair and impartial election, he added. The government alone will be responsible if it does not take the initiative, he said. About the newly-constituted Election Commission (EC), the BNP leader said the President has done whatever he was supposed to do. People have realised that a free and fair election is not possible without an election-time neutral government, he said. Fakhrul said the chief election commissioner (CEC) is not an eligible person, but there are many things regarding the general election. So, the matter can be looked into later on, he added. Asked whether the BNP would take part in the election under the present commission, the BNP leader said it is not a matter to discuss now, but the party will take part in local government polls like the previous years. Replying to a question, Fakhrul said no meeting was held to discuss who will steer the party if chairperson Khaleda Zia is sentenced. He termed such reports as imaginary. On the allegation of graft in the Padma Bridge project, the BNP leader said corruption is widespread and everywhere. The World Bank (WB) has not changed its stand on the allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge project. It has not said that there was no corruption, he added. The BNP senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, was present on the occasion. Earlier, the joint meeting adopted a two-day programme to mark Language Martyrs Day and International Mother Language Day. As part of the programme, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit the graves of language martyrs at the Azimpur graveyard and place a wreath at the Shaheed Minar on the morning of February 21. The BNP will also hold a meeting at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, on February 20. Besides, the party will hoist national and party flags at half mast at party offices across the country in observance of the day. The BNP secretary general announced the programme after the joint meeting. Speaking at a function at Dhaka Reporters Unity, BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy claimed that the Prime Minister cannot hold the next general election, if the BNP does not take part in it. But the BNP will not take part in the polls under Sheikh Hasina because a neutral election is not possible under her. Elections are not safe under a political government, he added.