BNP to think before joining city polls, says Fakhrul

MANIKGANJ, Mar 16 (UNB): BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday their party will have to think deeply for joining the upcoming elections to five city corporations if a proper polls atmosphere is not created.

"These polls (city elections) mean consolidating Awami League further. So, people won't have much support to such elections. We'll have to think deeply whether we'll join the polls as there's no proper atmosphere for election under the prevailing situation of the country," he said.

The BNP leader came up with the comment while talking to reporters after offering fateha at the grave of late BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain here, marking his 7th death anniversary.

Fakhrul alleged that the current Election Commission's only target is to put Awami League in power again to cement the 'one-party' rule. "We're not getting surprised at the Commission activities for reflecting the government's will."

He said the country's main crisis right now is that it lacks democracy while people have no democratic and human rights. "Democracy will not be fortified only holding such elections."

The BNP leader said their party thinks proper atmosphere for a credible election will not be created until a level-playing field is created and equal opportunities for all parties are ensured.

As his attention was drawn to ruling party leaders' assertion that hundreds of BNP leaders and activists are waiting to join Awami League, Fakhrul turned it down, saying it is a rubbish and false claim.

He recalled Delwar's contributions to the party and his role after the 1/11 political changeover in foiling various plots against BNP. "He saved BNP at that time and made it stronger."

Fakhrul went to Manikganj at noon and offered Juma prayers at a mosque beside Delwar's grave at Pachuria here.

Later, he offered fateha at his grave and paid tributes to the party's ex-secretary general by placing wraths along with party leaders and activists.

They also offered a munajat seeking salvation of Delwar's departed soul.

Born in Manikganj on February 1 in 1933, Delwar was elected MP for four times and became Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad. A valiant freedom fighter, Delwar had been involved with BNP politics since its birth.

Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.