BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed yesterday said though their party has a plan to join the city polls, it will not go to the general election if their conditions are not fulfilled, reports UNB. "We'll participate in the elections to the city corporations. But that doesn't mean we'll also join the national election if our conditions are not fulfilled. The ruling party won't be allowed to hold a lopsided election this time," he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion arranged by Bangladesh National Awami Party (NAP Bhasani) at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 41st death anniversary of great national leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said the current parliament must be dissolved 90 days before the next general election, and the polls will have to be held under a non-party neutral government.

He said Awami League should not fear a fair election under a neutral government as the party thinks it has huge popularity. "Arrange the election under a neutral administration so that people can exercise their right to franchise as per their wish."

The BNP leader said their party will join the national election if a proper atmosphere for a credible election is created.

Referring to the victory of their party candidates in the last elections to Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations, Moudud said Awami League could not take their defeat in those polls easily. "That's why those mayors couldn't enter their offices even by two years. If this is the case what is the use of joining polls?"

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said it will be a dangerous venture to join the next election without the army deployment.

"If the army is not deployed, it'll be dangerous to take part in the election. Keeping the army out of field, the ruling party wants to grab the power by force," he said.

The BNP leader was addressing as the chief guest a discussion titled "Tarique Rahman and leader of the future generation' organised by Jatiya Nagorik Sangsad at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 53rd birthday of BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman.

He demanded deployment of the army with full magistracy power to maintain the law and order during the polls for fair balloting.

Amir Khasru alleged that the ruling party amended the Constitution and relevant laws for their own interests.

Jatiya Nagorik Sangsad president Khaleda Yasmin, DAB secretary general Dr Zahid Hossain and BNP executive committee member Abu Nasser Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, among others, spoke at the programme.