Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Khandaker Mahbub Hossain on Friday said the party will not step into the government’s trap of a ‘farcical election’ only in fear of losing its registration with the Election Commission.

‘There’s no point to scare BNP that it’ll have to join the next polls or else its registration will be annulled. We would like to clearly say BNP won’t walk into your (govt’s) farcical election trap. We’ll resist it at any cost,’ he said.

He came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion at Photojournalists’ Association auditorium in the city arranged by Jatiyatabadi Sangrami Dal, a pro-BNP platform.

Mahbub, a BNP vice chairman, said a fair election in no way will be possible if Awami League President Sheikh Hasina heads the election-time administration.

He said people will only be able to exercise their right to franchise independently in the election if it is held under a neutral or all-party government. ‘Fair election won’t be held unless an election-time neural government is installed, no matter how much stronger Election Commission is formed.’

The BNP leader called upon the government to accept their party’s demand for forming an election-time supportive government for the sake of a fair election.

About the fresh gas price hike, he said the government took such an anti-people decision only to increase public sufferings as it is not elected with people’s votes.

Earlier in the day, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy also said their party will not take part in the next polls under any partisan government with Sheikh Hasina as its Prime Minister.

‘BNP won’t join the election under Sheikh Hsian as she doesn’t believe in people’s voting rights,’ he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at their party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Matshyajibi Dal, marking its founding anniversary.

He said the election will have to be held under a non-party or supportive government to ensure their party’s participation.

The BNP leader urged the government not take steps for holding the election under a neutral government. Or else, he warned, their party will force the government to accept their demand through a movement.