Khulna: Accusing the Prime Minister of annihilating democracy to cling to power, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Wednesday said democracy and Sheikh Hasina contradict each other.

"Though Awami League had started its journey with a vow to establish democracy, the party now has got deviated from that ideal. Sheikh Hasina and democracy now contradict each other," he said.

Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the comment while speaking at a discussion arranged by Khulna city unit BNP at a hotel here, marking BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman's 53rd birthday.

About the next general election, he said it will not be held without the participation of their top leaders Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. "People won't allow anyone to hold the election if Khaleda Zia is made ineligible to contest the polls through convicting her in a stage-managed trial."

The BNP leader also said no election will be held under Sheikh Hasina any more.

He suggested political analysts not to think about BNP's participation in the next polls. "Instead, you can think whether Awami League will join the election if it's held under a non-party neutral government."

Gayeshwar said the judiciary is now passing through a critical time as the government forced Chief Justice SK Sinha to quit for delivering the 16th amendment verdict against its will.

He said the ruling party has constantly been spreading propaganda against Tarique Rahman to malign him as the party seriously fears his huge popularity. "As we're enthusiastic about Tarique Rahman, our opponents are deeply worried for his growing popularity."

The BNP leader thinks there is no alternative to Tarique to consolidate the politics of nationalism.