AL averse to election talks for fear of defeat: BNP

BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government does not want to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections with the opposition parties due to its fear of losing power, reports bdnews24.com.

The BNP leader made the remarks in response to questions from reporters following an event at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city on Saturday.

The BNP would disclose its outline for a proper election-time government at the 'appropriate time', he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had recently dismissed the possibility of discussing the election-time government with the BNP, saying the period would be supervised by a small, interim government as it had been in the previous elections.

"We have repeatedly said that we want an impartial government during the election. We do not want an Awami League government. We do not want a Sheikh Hasina government," Alamgir said.

"No election held under such a government could ever be fair."

"The government is ignoring these calls. They do not want to talk with us. They know that if the elections were held under an impartial government, if they were fair and if all people were allowed to vote, they would be thrashed."

Asked about the BNP's outline for an election-time government, Alamgir said: "There is an appropriate time for everything. We will present an outline of a supportive election-time government to the people when the time is right."

The BNP leader inaugurated a daylong free medical camp by the BNP-allied 'Doctors' Association of Bangladesh' at the BNP offices in observation of the birthday of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman on Saturday.

Meanwhile, BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Saturday said the country's political scenario will change fast if their party takes to the streets as the ruling party cannot tackle them this time.

"I would like to say the country's political scenario will change if BNP takes to the streets this time. There'll be a mass upheaval if we get out on the field and Awami League won't be able to stay in power," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also urged all to remain alert as the government will try to foil the next polls to hang onto power by force.