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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said their party will not hold any talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as ‘she does not keep her words’.
“We won't engage in any talks with her. Why should we hold a dialogue with her when she doesn't keep her word? That's why we didn't talk about dialogue for once,” he said.
Fakhrul also said they will not sit in talks with those who put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail before the election in a ‘false’ case for no reason.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also hit out at the prime minister for her different comments about the political talks in 2018 and the next election.
The BNP leader warned that BNP will not make any compromise on the question of a neutral election, reports UNB.
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister at her press conference ruled out the possibility of talks with the BNP ahead of the next general election.
"With whom will we hold talks? We held a dialogue before the 2018 election. What was its result? They did nothing except making the election questionable," she said.
Reacting to the PM’s remarks, Fakhrul said they long ago turned down the possibility of talks with the current government. “Awami League will be held responsible if the next election becomes uncertain or if something worse happens in the next election.”
He said people want a change as their backs have been pushed against the wall. “So, we’ll not make any compromise on the question of an acceptable election.”
Mirza Fakhrul urged the prime minister to hand over power to a caretaker government if she is brave and confident enough that people love her.
Fakhrul also said they will accept whoever comes to power in a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.
Referring to the Prime Minister's remarks that no pressure will work on her, he said it has manifested she has no responsibility towards the country and its people. “She has also no feeling about the future of the country and to make it a functional state.”
The BNP leader said different countries are mounting pressure on the government for a credible election as Awami League resorted to all sorts of vote rigging, vote fraud, and terrorism in the last two elections to stay in power illegally obstructing people from going to the polling stations.
Fakhrul said Awami League knows very well that they will not be able to retain power through a fair election as the country’s people are not with them.
“That’s why they are creating a situation so that no one from outside the country can interfere in the election of our country and no one can talk about it…the foreigners those who are coming here are saying that they want to see a fair election. They (govt) are assuring the foreigners that everything is fine here and the Election Commission is independent and can arrange a fair election. But what they (govt) are telling the foreigners are lies and the travesty of truth,” he observed.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the government can take steps for the formation of a caretaker government through discussions with the political parties.
He said they want a level-playing field and a healthy election atmosphere so that people can exercise their right to franchise. "Create the election atmosphere, only then you can say why we’re not going to polls.”
Fakhrul also said it is undeniable that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the greatest sons of this country. “I feel bad the daughter of such a great man has pushed the entire nation towards destruction.”