Health Minister Nasim praises BNP’s ‘patience’

Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim has praised the ‘patience’ of the BNP and asked them to wait until the next general election.

“The BNP has been patient for a year,” he said. “I would ask them to be patient for a little longer until the next elections.”

The health minister and Awami League alliance coordinator was speaking after a meeting with the 14-party Grand Alliance at the Awami League President’s Office in Dhanmondi on Saturday.

The BNP had staged massive and violent protests one year after boycotting the 10th Parliamentary Elections in 2014, but has refrained from such agitation since.

After calling for early elections, the party participated in a discussion with the president on the formation of the Election Commission that will oversee the next parliamentary elections.

Ruling party Presidium Member Nasim thanked the other parties for participating in the EC formation talks with the president.

“We believe the BNP will participate in the coming elections,” he said.

Asked whether the BNP could sit for talks with the prime minister, Nasim said “It is not possible. The discussion will be with the president, who takes the initiative to form the Election Commission.”

 The Grand Alliance has condemned the murder of Gaibandha Sundarganj MP Monjurul Islam Liton and demanded that his killers be brought to justice.

Asked about allegations from Human Rights Watch that the alliance is persecuting its political opponents, Nasim said: “The opposition parties are not being persecuted. They have been patient. They can wait until the next elections.”

Asked about the comments of JaSaD president and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu about attempts to break up the Alliance, Nasim said: “There have been a few isolated incidents, but internal relations within the Alliance remains cordial.”

The Grand Alliance plans to distribute winter clothes in Bogra and Rangpur on Jan 20 and Jan 21, said Nasim.

General Secretary of the Workers' Party Fazle Hossain Badsha,  JaSaD faction General Secretary Shirin Akhter, JaSaD faction General Secretary Nazmul Haque, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif were also present at the Grand Alliance meeting.