BNP out to jeopardise JS poll environ: Ashraful

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Awami League's acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam Wednesday alleged that BNP is trying to jeopardise the environment of parliamentary polls by stigmatising the local-body elections as an 'election of entente', reports UNB.

"BNP has also participated in the City Corporation and municipal elections directly. But now its secretary general Khandaker Delwar is saying that the elections were of entente. Talking in such a way they are trying to vitiate the environment of the parliamentary polls," he said.

He was briefing journalists after visiting European Union Parliament Member Nirj Deva called on acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan residence.

He reiterated his party demands for lifting the state of emergency before the parliamentary elections for creating a level playing field in the country.

Asked why they will not accept parliamentary elections under emergency rules when they already have won an election under the state of emergency, he said parliamentary polls and local elections are not the same thing.

However, Ashraful Islam wouldn't say it clearly if they would participate in the parliamentary polls if eventually held under the state of emergency.

Earlier talking to the reporters, EU parliament member Nirj Deva said he discussed with the Awami League leaders the current state of emergency in the country, the recently held city and municipal elections and the long-awaited parliamentary polls.

He said according to EU rules, they don't send observers during election of any country where state of emergency is in force.