BNP looks for excuses to flee from polls: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday said his party wants BNP's full-strength participation in the national election but BNP is looking for excuses to flee from the polls, reports BSS.

He was replying to a question while exchanging views with journalists at his Minto Road official residence in the city.

About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's comment that the government is hatching conspiracy to oust the BNP from the field and lodging cases against BNP leaders and arresting them, Hasan said: "We want that the next general election to be held in a free, fair, neutral, transparent and festive manner with participation of all parties."

"But the irony is that BNP always flees from polls. Mirza Fakhrul and Rizvi Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed are making such comments to create excuses for fleeing from the elections," he said.

The AL joint general secretary said BNP's target is not to take part in elections rather they want to foil the election and make it questionable.

BNP leaders' comments give the impression that they want guarantee of winning and if they get it, they will join polls otherwise they won't do so, he said.

"But the people or the government or the Election Commission cannot give them such guarantees," he said.