Now BNP will travel by local train, says Hasan Mahmud

Ruling Awami League (AL) Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said after missing the inter-city train now BNP has announced to travel by local train, reports UNB.

"BNP has decided to take part in the upazila parishad elections. We thank BNP for their good sense," he said.

Hasan Mahmud, also the former forests minister, compared the national polls with the inter-city train and the upazila election with local train while addressing a press conference at AL president Sheikh Hasina's political office at Dhanmondi in the city.

Terming the absence of Jamaat in the 18-party's January 20 Suhrawardy Udyan rally a show-off, the AL leader said the real thing has been exposed through the comments of BNP acting secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Nilphamari Friday.

"As fish can't live without water likewise BNP wouldn't able to move without Jamaat", he added.

While talking to reporters in Nilphamari Friday, Mirza Fakhrul said that Jamaat is in the 18-party alliance and will remain in the future.

"You (BNP) always approach to the foreigners. Severe ties with the Jamaat even according to the advice of the foreigners."

BNP leader Asaduzzaman Ripon Friday said if any mobile court conducts drive against the illegal passengers who boarded the January 5 election train without tickets could face fine or jail as people didn' t give them mandate to form any government.

Replying to the comment of the BNP leader Hasan Mahmud said the electoral train reached its destination as new government has been formed. The train didn't face mobile court before reaching its destination, he said.