BNP sets condition to join next general election

Senior Correspondent: BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan has said their party’s participation in the next election largely depends on the release of Khaleda Zia from jail.

“We’ve tried to have Khaleda Zia freed from jail through a legal process, but the government will not let it happen… it mainly depends on her release whether we will join the polls or not,” he said.

Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion arranged by Aparajeyo Bangladesh at the Jatiya Press Club demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release on Sunday.

He called upon BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a greater mass movement to free Khaleda from jail and bring a change in the country by ousting the current government.

The BNP leader said though their party has long been carrying out a peaceful movement, the government continued arresting their party leaders and activists.

He bemoaned that many BNP leaders and activists have been kept in jail for months after months as they are not getting bail from courts in the ‘false’ cases they were implicated.

Nazrul said people are going through immense sufferings due to rise in the prices of utility services and daily essentials amid the growing unemployment rate. “It can’t be continued. A greater democratic mass movement is crucial to get rid of the current situation.”

The BNP leader said their party will involve people and unite other political parties to wage the movement.
 

risingbd/Dhaka/June 03, 2018/Reza/A K Azad