Dhaka: Describing the current government as a ‘spineless’ one, BNP on Wednesday said it will not be able to send Rohingyas back to their home in Myanmar.

‘The Prime Minister joined the Commonwealth’s Summit in London, but couldn’t make any progress towards resolving the Rohingya crisis. The government signed a Rohingya repatriation deal with Myanmar, but couldn’t send even a single Rohingya over the last six months,’ said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, ‘The government won’t be able to send the Rohingyas back to their country under the current circumstances. Even, this spineless regime still couldn’t adopt a resolution condemning the Myanmar government.’

Nasiruddin Pintu Smriti Sangsad organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the third death anniversary of late BNP leader Pintu.

Reacting to Prime Minister’s criticism for making a ‘convicted criminal’ BNP’s acting chairman, Fakhrul said Tarique Rahman was elected their party’s senior vice chairman through a party council.

‘As per our party constitution, our senior vice chairman will perform as the party acting chairman in absence of our chairperson. We made him our leader as he is worthy of it, and he deserves it. You shouldn’t say anything about it. Your (PM’s) comment in this regard is not acceptable,’ he added.

The BNP leader said Tarique was convicted in a case he was acquitted by the lower court. ‘The judge who acquitted him had to leave the country to save his life. But, you made convicted persons ministers and withdrew the cases filed against you.’

He also questioned the Prime Minister as two why she tries to scare BNP leaders and activists with a threat of bringing Tarique Rahman back home. ‘Tarique Rahman must return home, if necessary. Crores of people will go to the airport to receive him if he returns home, and you’ll see his popularity on that day.’

About the Election Commission’s plan to announce the schedule for the next election, Fakhrul said the schedule will have to be declared when the nation will be ready for the polls.

He said the election schedule must be declared through negotiations among political parties after resolving the crisis over the nature of election-time government.

The BNP leader also set some conditions, including the release of their chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail, dissolution of parliament, resignation of the Prime Minister and the deployment of army, for holding the 11th parliamentary polls in a credible and neutral manner with the participation of all parties.