BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday urged the government to engage in talks over the installation of an election-time ‘supportive’ government to hold he next general election in a credible manner.

‘Election won’t be held without ensuring a level-playing field. It has already been proved that a fair election is very difficult under you. So, an election-time supportive government is necessary. Let’s sit together and discuss how it can be introduced.’

Kalyan Party, one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at Shishu Kalyan Parishad auditorium in Dhaka, reports UNB.

Fakhrul said the government is not willing to hold dialogue over the election-time government as it knows it very well that it will not be able to win the next election if it is held in a neutral and credible manner. ‘You (AL) want to play such a game where you’ll act as a referee and linesman, and will score unilaterally obstructing us. We won’t allow that to happen.’

Referring to ruling party leaders’ comments that the next election will be held as per the constitution, he alleged that the current charter has been made a document of Awami League by amending it extensively.

About the continued drives against militants, Fakhrul questioned as to why the government could not unearth the mystery behind the rise in militancy by arresting militants alive. ‘You’re killing the suspected militants instead of arresting them alive.’