As part of its preparations for the next general election, the BNP is carrying a mass contact programme at grassroots level alongside its ongoing movement for the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail, according to party leaders. Such preparations for the next polls are in line with the directives issued by Khaleda Zia before she went to jail. The movement for her release has been added to it following the party chairperson's imprisonment, said the leaders.

In the course of the preparations, the party’s 37 committees formed by the central leadership have almost completed workers' conferences in most districts and held rallies in major divisional headquarters. The committee chiefs are scheduled to submit their reports on the overall situation at the grassroots level.

The conferences and rallies in the rest of the districts and divisional headquarters, respectively, will be held after Eid-ul-Fitr.

Talking to The Independent, some senior party leaders said they are preparing for the next polls taking all possible situations into consideration. Party activities are being conducted centring on the movement for the release of the party chairperson and as part of its preparation for the next general election, they added.

Some leaders, however, said that being a major political party, the BNP is always prepared for the national election and has no problems with party candidates.

The party has launched different programmes including the holding of rallies, formation of human chains, hunger strikes and sit-in demonstrations to press for the immediate release of Khaleda Zia. It has concentrated all its strength to boost the organisational base at the grassroots level through various mass contact programme to sharpen its preparation for the next national polls, said the leaders.

Standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they do not lack preparation for the next general elections. “Our movement has been announced centring the next election. We have no problem with the preparations for the next polls,” he added.

Regarding the party’s possible candidates for the next polls, Hossain said the party has more than one probable candidates in each constituency. “The selection of party candidates will not be a major factor. We're emphasising the need to carry forward political and organisational activities,” he added.

Another standing committee member, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, said they are prepared for the national polls. “We've no problem with the preparations for the next polls and candidate selection,” he added.

The former minister, however, claimed that there is no political space and level playing field for other political parties under the AL-led government. He said the BNP would take part in the next election, which must be held under a neutral administration.

BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said they have been preparing for the next polls even before the January 5, 2014 elections. The process has been hampered by the jailing of the party’s chairperson, he added.

He said the ongoing movement will strengthen the demand for Khaleda Zia’s release and holding the next polls under a neutral government.

Organising Secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu said the BNP chairperson had directed the party leaders to get prepared for the movement and the next election.

He, however, made it clear that they would not take part in the polls without Khaleda Zia and would not allow any election without her. Another

 organising secretary, Imran Saleh Prince, said all the party activities are centred on the ongoing movement and the next elections. The party would complete its workers conferences' and rallies in the rest of the districts and divisions after the month of Ramadan, he confirmed.