BNP on Tuesday renewed its call to the government for holding talks with political parties to hold the next general election under a non-party neutral government and resolve the country’s political ‘crisis’.

Speaking at a discussion, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also questioned the motive behind the Chie Election Commissioner’s remark that Khaleda Zia will not be able to join the next polls, reports the UNB.

‘Why has our party constitution become your headache? Oil your own machine. Look at your own party. Where will you stand after losing power? Come to the right point how you will restore people’s democratic and voting rights which you have snatched,’ he said pointing at the Prime Minister.

The BNP leader further said, ‘Take immediate steps for discussions with all then political parties to save the country and overcome the current crisis, shunning your vanity and arrogance. Also, engage in talks to hold the next polls under a non-party neutral government and will be conducted by an impartial Election Commission.’

At the same time, he demanded the government immediately release Khaleda Zia from jail.

Or else, Fakhrul warned, the country’s people will free the BNP chairperson from jail, and establish their rights through a movement.

The BNP leader also urged all the political parties, civil society members, patriots and democracy-loving people to come forward to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s rights.

National People’s Party (NPP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding Khaleda’s immediate release from jail.

Fakhrul criticised the Prime Minister for what he said talking like a ‘despotic and arrogant’ ruler at her press conference on Monday. ‘We didn’t find anything for people at her press meet.’

He also said how being a woman and a politician the Prime Minister attacked her political rival and another woman Khaleda Zia in such indecorous and indecent words.

The BNP leader alleged that Sheikh Hasina defended Nurul Islam Nahid over the repeated incidents of question paper leakage as her government wants to destroy the country’s examination system. 

Referring to CEC KM Nurul Huda’s comment that Khaleda Zia cannot participate in the upcoming general election in the present state, Fakhrul said, ‘It’s unnecessary to make such comment now. It’s my question as to why you’re making such comment in advance? You’re saying it with a motive to create a ground for the future.’

Earlier speaking at a human chain programme, he said people will free Khaleda from jail through a mass upsurge.

He alleged that the government has sent their chairperson to jail as part of its plot to hold the next polls keeping her out of the next election race.

Fakhrul urged people from all walks of life to be vocal and take to the streets to force the government to release Khaleda and take steps for holding the next polls under a non-party neutral administration.

Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, protesting the ‘government’s plot’ against the Zia family.