The BNP is likely to ask for Army deployment across the country soon after the next general election schedule is announced. The party will also urge the EC to continue with the deployment of Army personnel till 15 days after the polling, according to party sources.

The EC has invited the BNP for talks on October 15 and the Awami League on October 18 regarding preparations for the  general election.

The BNP will also emphasise holding the polls under an election-time government for a free and fair election as well as ensuring participation of all political parties, the sources said. It will give a written proposal, detailing the EC’s role in holding the general election.

A group of senior leaders, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is working on it, the sources added.

If the government remains firm in holding the polls under the present government, the BNP will ask the EC to curtail

the Prime Minister’s executive powers and take charge of important ministries, including home, public administration, foreign affairs, information and local government, said a senior party leader.

The BNP will also propose dissolving Parliament,

delimitation of constituencies and making some

amendments to the Representative of People Order

(RPO) to enable the EC to exercise all constitutional

powers bestowed on it and allow the media along

with local and international observers to monitor the election freely.

A senior vice-chairman of the party said they want deployment of the Army for a long time because it will help recover illegal arms across the country and instill confidence in voters to cast their ballots freely. It will also help in creating a level playing field and reducing harassment of opposition leaders and activists in false cases, he added.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they would sit and discuss the issues. “We will sit at a party forum within a few days to discuss different aspects of the dialogue,” he added.

“The BNP is preparing its agenda for the proposed dialogue, and we’ll let you (journalists) know about our decision in time,” he said.  

Standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they would take part in the proposed dialogue with the EC.

“We’ve told you (journalists) earlier that we will take part in the talks,” he added.

Asked about the issues they would like to discuss with the EC, Hossain said they would decide on the agenda of dialogue at the party forum.

“I don’t know the agenda of the dialogue. If we join the talks on October 15, we’ll sit together either on October 12 or 13 to discuss the issues,” he added.

The veteran leader, however, said that they would not budge from their stand that the next election should be held under an election-time government.

“We’ll pursue it wherever we get a chance,” he said, adding that it is the EC’s job as to what decision it will take after the dialogue is over.

The EC began talks with 40 registered political parties on August 23 to get their opinions regarding preparations for the next general election.