Hasina rules out snap polls, talks with Khaleda over next election

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out the possibility of calling a snap election and holding talks with Khaleda Zia in a bid to bring the BNP to the next parliamentary polls.

“The next election can be held under the democratic system. We have not found ourselves in a terrible situation that requires us to hold an election now,” she told a news conference on Thursday.

On being asked by journalists, the prime minister referred to her experience when she had tried for talks with Khaleda before the last election.

Hasina says she does not waste time on the ‘wrong people’.     

“The BNP will come to election after offering an apology. They won’t repeat the mistake this time,” she said.

She appeared before the media at the Ganabhaban with the update on her recent tour to Cambodia.  

The issue of snap polls came into discussion recently. Asked about the matter on Nov 29, Chief Election Commissioner AKM Nurul Huda told reporters only the government can take a call on the matter.

When Ekushey TV CEO Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul mentioned the CEC’s comment and asked for the prime minister’s take, Hasina ruled out the possibility of any snap polls.

“We need more time to take the development work forward,” she said.

She said no government other than the current one led by the Awami League could develop the country in ‘such a short period’.

Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, referring to Hasina’s comments in the ruling party’s last National Council that she wanted all the parties to take part in the election, asked whether the government would initiate any talks.

“Should I have to send her (Khaleda) a welcome tray?” the prime minister asked, recalling a phone call she had made to the BNP chief to invite her to talks at the Ganabhaban amid rising tension before the last parliamentary election in 2014.

“With whom will the discussion be held? What proposal! I had to face her rebuke after making a proposal…I don’t think there is any need to send her another proposal,” the prime minister said.

Hasina said it was the BNP’s decision to take whether it will take part in the next election. “The government has nothing to do here,” she said.

She also recalled how she was turned away from the gate of Khaleda Zia’s offices when she went to console the bereaved the mother after the death of her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco in 2015.

“After all, I am the prime minister. I went to her house when her son died, but I was not let in,” she said.