Will compel govt to concede to our demand: BNP

The BNP has warned of waging a mass movement after the Eid-ul-Fitr to force the government to accept its demand for a fresh national polls supervised by a non-party neutral body.

At an Iftar programme, organised by 20-Party Alliance member National Democratic Party (NDP) on Saturday, party chief Khaleda Zia said Bangladesh was in "distress".

Ninety five percent people stayed away from the Jan 5 polls, she said. "They made it clear that they don't have faith in this government, they don't want it."

The BNP-led alliance boycotted the polls demanding a non-party government's supervision. The then ruling Awami League, however, insisted on holding the elections under its supervision as the 15th Constitutional Amendment had scrapped the caretaker government provision.

It won a predictable landslide and returned to power for a second consecutive term.

Since then, the BNP and its allies have been pressing for an early election supervised by a non-party body.

"We'll make the government accept our demand after the Eid," Khaleda thundered.

Top leaders of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance took part in the Iftar programme.

Khaleda exchanged greetings with her alliance leaders before delivering her speech.

"The people are not doing well... the country cannot go on like this," she said claiming the people were ready for the movement.

"Now, we have to take preparations [for it]," the BNP chairperson said.