‘EC’s roadmap won’t solve political crisis’

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today criticised the election commission’s “unilateral roadmap” of the next general election and said the effort will not settle the “prevailing political crisis”.

“It is a one-sided roadmap. It has been prepared without discussion with any stakeholders. It will not solve the prevailing political impasse,” Fakhrul told reporters at the party’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks hours after Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda announced a roadmap to hold the next general election in a peaceful manner.

Claiming that the roadmap is not a major concern for BNP, Fakhrul said, “We are concerned over how the next general election will be held and what role will be played by the government and the election commission.”

Stressing the need for polls-time supportive government, Fakhrul said a dialogue over the issue is more important than the roadmap.

Fahkrul also termed the roadmap as sensitive matter and said his party will come up with a formal decision in this regard after holding talks in the party forum.

The BNP leader also praised the CEC’s move to hold the next general election in a free and fair manner and expressed disappointment over the government’s attitude to the opposition political parties.

“We cannot arrange any political meeting, procession or discussion. Is there any electoral atmosphere in the country? We will have to think about it first,” he said.

Responding to a query, he said his party wants to participate in the elections through a major reform to the democratic and systematic tools of the country.