Election to be held much ahead of 2019: BNP

Brushing aside the ruling party leaders’ claim that the next national election to be held on completion of the government’s five-year tenure, BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the election will be held much ahead of 2019. ‘There was no participation of the people in January-5 election. People didn’t accept the polls. So, the next election will be held much ahead of 2019, no matter what the ruling party leaders are saying. We do believe people will force it to hold fresh polls,’ Mirza Alamgir said while addressing a meet-the-press programme arranged by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) at its auditorium at Segunbagicha in the city. Mentioning that it is not possible to develop the country by snatching people’s rights and annihilating democratic system, the BNP leader said Awami League grabbed power through an illegal election against people’s will putting the country into a deep crisis. ‘It’s necessary to free democracy to overcome the crisis.’ Responding to a question as to the decisive movement will be launched, he said there is no specific date for launching the movement but as soon people will get united and vocal as earlier the movement will be launched, according to a news agency.