Reiterating its demand for polls under a non-partisan administration, the BNP yesterday accused the Sheikh Hasina government of destroying all democratic institutions in the country in a bid to establish the one-party rule. “The country is now in the grip of a despotic ruler. There is no alternative but to hold an inclusive election under the management of a neutral government to come out of this situation,” BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters at the party headquarters at Nayapaltan in the city. The media briefing followed the BNP secretary general’s first formal meeting with the party’s newly appointed joint secretary generals, organising secretaries and assistant secretaries after its sixth national council session. Alamgir said the country’s prevailing political situation and organisational activities were discussed in the meeting. “The BNP’s next leadership is being groomed as per the instruction of our party chief Khaleda Zia to forge a strong movement in the near future to restore democracy,” he added. The BNP leader said there was no need for the party to prepare to contest an election. “The BNP is always ready to take part in an election, but the polls should be held under the supervision of a non-party administration. This is because free and fair elections are not possible under the AL-led government,” he added. Earlier, at the party meeting, Alamgir had asked leaders who were still holding more than one party post to give up one post and inform the BNP high-ups about their decision. This was because the BNP constitution does not allow a leader to hold more than one position at the same time, sources said. The meeting also discussed the spirit among party leaders and activists, who had braved the government’s repression and come forward to participate in the union parishad polls. The meeting also dwelled on the faction fights between AL-sponsored candidates and rebel contestants. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary generals Majibur Rahman Sarwar, Syed Moyazzem Hossain Alal, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Harun-Ur-Rashid, organising secretaries Syed Emran Saleh Prince and Bilkis Jahan Shirin, among others, attended the meeting.