BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf

BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said that his party will not take part in any talks sponsored by the current Election Commission over the upcoming general election.

“Our position is very clear that there is no reason for us to join any talks with the Election Commission whether it holds dialogue or not. The dialogue is valueless. So, there is no question of talking to the commission,” he said.

Mosharraf came up with the remarks a day after the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal’s statement that BNP would be invited to a dialogue, soon.

Sammilito Chhatra Jubo Forum organised the discussion programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka, marking the 7th death anniversary of BNP leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu.

Former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on May 3, 2015.

Reiterating the party’s stance on the next general election, Mosharraf said BNP will not join any polls under the election management of Awami League government.

BNP did not participate in the ‘dramas staged by the President’ Abdul Hamid and a search committee when the government formed the current EC, he said.

BNP wants the next general election to be held under a non-party neutral government after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and dissolution of the parliament, he said.

If a non-partisan government takes charge of the country and forms an impartial and acceptable EC to conduct elections in a fair and credible manner, BNP will talk to that Election Commission, he said.

Mosharraf called upon the countrymen to take an all-out preparation to go for a street movement in a bid to bring a change in the government.

Claiming that the incumbent government is not in a ‘good mood’, he said the ruling party men cannot sleep well as the country’s situation is worse than Sri Lanka in terms of socially, economically and politically.