BNP won't boycott Bhola-3 by-election

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Opposition BNP said it would not stay away from the by-election to Bhola-3 parliamentary constituency, but it won't accept the result of any stage-managed election, reports UNB.
The party also cautioned the present government that it would have to face the consequences like the agitation that was staged by the then opposition Awami League against the BNP government over Magura by-election.
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain spoke of the party's stance while addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office Friday over the latest situation of Bhola-3 by-election scheduled for April 24.
He rejected the reported remarks of the ruling party leader Tofail
Ahmed that BNP was looking for pretexts to stay away from the Bhola-3 by-election.
Delwar said the BNP candidate would win the by-election if it was held in free, fair and neutral manner amid peaceful environment without rigging and interference of the government.
Delwar also he said adequate number of foreign election observers would have to be invited to monitor the by-election and to ensure that journalists could perform their professional duty neutrally.
The BNP secretary general demanded of the Election Commission (EC) to take immediate steps for preventing terrorism by outsiders in the Bhola-3 constituency and deploy army so that voters could exercise their franchise freely without any fear.
He also asked the EC to do whatever was necessary for holding a free, fair and neutral election as it had enough power to this end.
BNP leaders Mir Nasiruddin, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Abdus Salam, Rafiq Sikder and Faisal Ahmed were also present at the press briefing.