AL intimidating BNP over next JS elections

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government was trying to intimidate the party into contesting the next general election.

“A deep-rooted conspiracy is on to force BNP to contest the next general election. As per law, it is mandatory to join the polls. But the law was enacted for people. The law is meaningless if it doesn't ensure people's welfare,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

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He was addressing a discussion jointly organised by Bangladesh Student Forum and Northern Regional Student Forum at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the “imprisonment day” of BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Some senior Awami League leaders, including its General Secretary Obaidul Quader, recently said the BNP must join the next parliamentary election as its registration with the Election Commission would be scrapped if it doesn't do so.

Fakhrul yesterday said the government wants to win the next parliamentary polls by using tricks as “it did in 2014”.

The BNP wants not only an election, but also a democratic rule and a democratic government, he added.

“The January 5, 2014 national election was not an election at all. Following the same style, Awami League is now trying to win in the next general election by resorting to tricks and deceiving people. But it won't be so easy.” 

Claiming that there is no democracy in the country, he said “AL talks about democracy to fool people although it does not believe in it”. 

Top BNP leaders, including Senior Joint secretary General Rizvi Ahmed, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho also spoke, among others.