BNP disappointed over Syed Ashraf’s remark

The BNP has expressed its disappointment over Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s remark that the next general elections would be held under the supervision of the incumbent elected government as per the Constitution.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 August 2015, 03:09 PM
Updated : 1 August 2015, 04:42 PM

BNP’s acting spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press briefing on Saturday reiterated his party’s demand for holding dialogue to find ways to conduct next general election under a ‘neutral’ administration.
 
On Friday, the ruling Syed Ashraf said, "The BNP has moved on from the caretaker issue, realising its mistake. The next election will be held under the incumbent government in line with the Constitution.”
 
Criticising Ashraf, Ripon said, “We are disappointed to hear this. It made us apprehensive that the government is planning to hold another farcical election like that of Jan 5 last year.”
 
Elaborating BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s comment, he said, “A neutral election is essential in the country, be that under a caretaker or any other administrative body.”
 
He said, “We are not stuck on the two words -- caretaker government.
 
“We have been asking for a neutral government to oversee conduct of elections since polling under an incumbent political party will not be fair.”
 
Ripon appealed to the government to return the people their voting rights.
 
Agreeing with Gonoforum President Kamal Hossain’s worries over the country’s present situation, he said, “Our party supports any attempt to establish democracy to end authoritarian rule, and will support this in future, too.”
 
At the briefing, Ripon also criticised the ruling party leaders’ comment on the internal matters of the BNP.
 
“We have seen some ruling party people who lost power have been shamelessly trying to keep themselves alive in media space by making scathing remarks on BNP and its leadership.”
 
He said those making such remarks should first look at their faces in the mirror.
 
“You think about your adversity. You need not worry about BNP,” he said.