BNP will do better in next election, says Nazrul

“We nominated candidates in 292 constituencies. Naturally, we believed they would all win,” he says

Nazrul Islam Khan, chairman of the election management committee of the BNP, has voiced hope that the party will secure better results in future polls than it did in the Feb 12 election.

Speaking to reporters around 11am on Friday, after the Election Commission announced the official results, the BNP National Standing Committee member said the party had contested 292 seats with the expectation of victory.

“We nominated candidates in 292 constituencies. Naturally, we believed they would all win,” he said.

“Every candidate enters an election hoping to win -- even those who ultimately receive only 2/4/500 votes.”

“Allah willing, our results will definitely be better in the next election,” he added.

Pressed on whether the BNP was satisfied with the outcome, Nazrul struck a measured tone.

“Who can ever be 100 percent satisfied with anything? That is very difficult,” he said. “But we are fairly satisfied.”

He noted that the relative absence of large-scale violence was a significant factor behind that assessment.

“By the infinite mercy of Allah, we did not see the level of deaths, injuries, or destruction of state property that occurred in many previous elections,” he said. “That is an important matter.”

At the same time, the BNP leader expressed regret over the relatively low turnout in the vote.

“We could not fully overcome the culture of abstention that developed after years of limited voting opportunities.”

Nazrul said the party would focus on rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process.

“We hope that in the coming days we can generate greater interest among citizens,” he said, “So that people come to polling stations, exercise their rights, and share responsibility in governing the state.”