Dhaka: Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finally accepted the new Election Commission (EC) after soiling the water by announcing to join upazila polls under it.

“They (BNP) will accept everything. I’ve heard they’re going to join elections to 18 upazilas. It means, though late, they’ve finally accepted this EC after soiling the water,” he said.

Quader, also the Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks at a joint meeting of Dhaka district unit Awami League at a community centre in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area.

He hoped that BNP will also take part in the next parliamentary elections. “They’ve no other alternative to taking part in the polls. In fear of losing the party’s registration and getting irrelevant (in politics), they must join the polls.”

The Awami League general secretary, however, suggested his party colleagues not to take BNP lightly as BNP is the united platform of all those against Awami League.     

“In no way, they’re weak rival. So, if you indulge in infighting and internal conflict, the opponents will take its advantage,” he warned.

Elections to some upazilas will be held on March 6.

Though BNP has reservation about the new EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their party will join the local body polls under the EC as they did it during the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led Commission.

Fakhrul, however, said they will decide later whether they will participate in the next national polls under it.