Talks only if BNP recognises govt: Hanif

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Saturday said that a political dialogue with the BNP could be held only if the party recognises the present government.

Ruling out possibility of any midterm election, he stated that the government was elected for five-year term as per the constitution.

He was exchanging view with journalists after a meeting of leaders of the Kurigram district unit of the ruling party.

The Awami League leader claimed that those foreign organisations which had opposed the government in their earlier surveys were now stating in their fresh surveys that 85 percent people endorsed the steps taken by the government in maintaining law and order and ensuring continuation of the economic development.

“So, the government has no plan to hold a midterm election to test its popularity,” he added.

About initiating a dialogue with the BNP, the ruling party lawmaker said, “It’s the BNP that will have to take a decision on the government’s legality. A dialogue can be held with it only if it comes up with a proposal recognising the validity of the government. Otherwise, no dialogue will be held.”

Hanif claimed that though the BNP did not want to accept the government, the party was doing everything possible to win the upcoming Upazila Councils’ elections.

Hanif said that immediate disciplinary actions would be taken against the party’s rebel candidates who are contesting the elections in many Upazila councils.

He also urged the rebel candidates to back the official party candidate in the polls.

Both the ruling Awami League and the BNP-led 19-party alliance have failed to pick single candidate in the Upazila polls because of the defiance of the grassroots leaders.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina last week directed her party's grassroots leaders to finalise single name for the candidatures of chairman and vice-chairman for each Upazila ahead of the Upazila Parishad polls. She asked the leaders to select candidates through consensus.

Chaired by Kurigram district Awami League President Aminul Islam Monju, the programme was addressed, among others, by former minister Faruk Khan, Awami League Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and MP Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul.