Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday said a neutral election-time government is a must alongside a stronger Election Commission (EC) to ensure a fair and acceptable general election.

“The national election won’t be neutral and acceptable only by forming a stronger Election Commission. An election-time neutral administration is also crucial for it,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion at Shishu Kalyan Parishad auditorium in the city arranged by Labour party, a component of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance.

Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said their party will place a proposal on the framework of an election-time government after the formation of the EC. “We believe an impartial election is not possible without a neutral government.”

Mentioning that their party wants a free and fair election to be held, he appreciated the President for holding talks with different political parties on the formation of a stronger, neutral and independent EC.

During their party delegation’s meeting with President Abdul Hamid, Nazrul said they talked based on their chairperson’s 13-point proposal on the EC constitution.

He said their party will accept if any party gives better proposals than their chairperson’s to form a stronger Commission. “BNP never says it won’t accept any better proposal than the party’s one.”

The BNP leader said though Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) election was apparently fair, people have some questions and confusion about it, and the Election Commission should take steps to remove those.