Seat-sharing talks with allies after polls schedule: Khasru

BNP senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said his party will begin discussions on seat sharing with its political allies once the election schedule is announced, reports UNB.

"We've not reached that stage yet to talk about seat sharing. This process will begin once the election schedule is announced and election-related activities start," he said.

Khosru, also a BNP standing committee member, made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting between BNP's liaison committee and the Gono Odhikar Parishad at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in the capital on Thursday.

He said the seat-sharing issue will be addressed only after the election process officially begins. "We'll discuss it with all like-minded parties once the schedule is announced."

During the meeting with Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders, Khasru said they shared the outcome of the recent meeting between Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London.

He mentioned that both parties are pleased with the announcement that the election is likely to be held in February next year.

The BNP leader also said they discussed how to move forward and carry out necessary preparations ahead of the election, including how to implement the 31-point reform agenda. "As we were united during the movement, we'll move forward together in the coming days - during the election, in forming the government and in implementing the 31-point reform."

Speaking about the ongoing meetings of the National Consensus Commission, Khosru said reforms will be carried out based on issues where political parties can agree. "There is no scope to go beyond that."

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Thursday conveyed to the BNP his hope that democratic order will soon be restored in Bangladesh through a free, fair and credible national election.

The EU envoy expressed this hope during a meeting with BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan.

BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obaed was also present at the meeting.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Khosru said, "The first thing that was discussed was the election. The election is being held in February, so everyone is relieved and satisfied, and they hope that we will move towards elections soon and the country will return to democratic order."