BNP on Monday said it will be suicidal for the opposition to join any national election under Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister has exposed herself by praising a ‘flawed’ election to Khulna City Corporation.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi feared that the next general election may be held in Khulna style, reports the UNB.

‘The Prime Minister’s high appreciation (of Khulna polls) has proved that the government high-ups are order-givers for rigging votes in the election. Her comments also exposed that the next national election will be held following the Khulna model,’ he observed.

Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister said voters cast their votes in favour of Awami League as they think only her party can change their fate through development activities.

‘They’ve realised that development activities get momentum when Awami League comes to power and those get stalled whenever BNP is in power,’ Sheikh Hasina said when newly elected Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek came to her official residence Ganobhaban to greet her following his victory in the KCC polls.

Reacting to the remarks, Rizvi said the Prime Minister undermined the voters by justifying the Khulna polls. ‘She did it using her illegal state power after depriving voters of their rights.’

He criticised the Election Commission for what he said having failed to play its due role as an independent body in the Khulna polls. ‘The EC has only implemented the government’s agenda.’

The BNP leader aired strong doubt about fair voting in Gazipur city polls as he said the ministers and MPs have started influencing the election there as they did it in Khulna. 

He said though the Prime Minister said ministers and ruling party MPs do not influence polls, a minister and some senior ruling party leaders and MPs held a meeting at local MP’s house at Tongi, Gazipur on Sunday. ‘So, how can the Prime Minister resort to lie holding such a responsible post?’

The BNP leader said the ruling party men violated the election code of conduct by holding such a meeting in Gazipur election area.