BNP’s demands unrealistic: Tofail

Urging BNP to take preparation for the next Jatiya Sangsad polls, the Awami League Advisory Council member and Commerce Minister, Tofail Ahmed, on Sunday said BNP would be a loser, if it does not participate in the next election.

“No demand of BNP is realistic . . . They (BNP) should shun all demands or requirements and take preparation for the next Jatiya Sangsad (parliamentary) polls,” he told journalists after addressing a public meeting at Balia of Dakshin Dighaldi Union under Sadar upazila here.

About BNP’s demand for reforming the incumbent Election Commission (EC), Tofail said the EC was earlier reconstituted in line with the search committee recommendations, where BNP itself was one of the stakeholders as it gave their valuable opinion. “So the present Election Commission is accepted by all,” he added.

Referring to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s graft charges, the minister said the court sentenced her to imprisonment and the Court itself will take the next decision, nobody has anything to do in this regard, reports BSS.

The senior ruling party leader also bitterly criticized the role of BNP leaders about their unacceptable demands for Begum Zia’s treatment outside the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka.

“Why won’t she (Khaleda) undertake treatment at those hospitals?” Tofail posed a question, adding that the President, the Prime Minister and Chiefs of three services also take treatment from those esteemed hospitals which maintain excellent environment.

The minster smelt a malafide intention of BNP regarding Khaleda Zia’s treatment and said,” It’s nothing but an effort of Begum Zia to go out of the country.”

Upazila AL President and Upazila Parishad Chairman M Mosharraf Hossain, Additional Police Super Meer Safin Mahmud, District unit AL Organizing Secretary Mainul Islam Biplob, Zila Parishad member Khairul Hasan Khokon and union AL general secretary M Kamal Hossain, among others, also spoke.