Polls boycott to push BNP into great troubles: Tofail

BHOLA, Nov 10 (BSS): Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said today BNP will have to suffer immensely if it does not participate in the next general elections.

"BNP will participate in the next general elections regardless of whatever they say...Otherwise they have to suffer immensely," he said.

The Awami League (AL) advisory council member and senior leader made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest a function over rural electrification in six kilometres area in Belumia union of Sadar upazila of the district.

The government is transforming the villages of the country into towns, Tofail said, adding, "Now the roads of the villages are concreted and houses have electricity connections."

The minister said the country is progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "We are now in a better position economically compared to any time in the past," he added.

Criticising the BNP, Tofail said BNP was in power for several tenures, but could not do any development of the country.

In 1996, the AL had left office with 4000 megawatts electricity generation capacity while BNP reduced it to3000 megawatts after coming to power, said the commerce minister, adding that the country will generate 24,000 megawatts electricity by 2021 under the leadership of the AL.

Chaired by Belumia Union Council chairman M Salam Master, the meeting was also addressed by District AL general secretary and district council chairman Abdul Momin Tulu, Rural Electrification Association general manager Kefayat Ullah, Sadar upazila council chairman M Mosharref Hossain and vice-chairman Younus Hazi, among others.