Dhaka: Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, also the ruling Awami League general secretary, has frustrated the nation by vowing that the next national election will be held under the government of Sheikh Hasina, said BNP on Saturday.

The party spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon, also the international affairs secretary of the party’s central committee, at a press conference in the party office at Nayapaltan in Dhaka on Saturday complained that the minister had just tried to spread the fear that a January 5-like election, which was joined by only 5% of the voters, was set to be held in near future.

The public administration minister on Friday said, ‘Next election will be held according to the constitution and under the present government. This is our constitutional rule and there will be no exception.’ 

Ripon said the government was in serious trouble for the steps it had taken. There is no rule of law and justice and the country is experiencing an autocratic rule, he added.

Ripon said the government could only rescue itself by holding a free and fair election, which would be joined by all parties. He, however, said that it had already been proved that the no free and fair election can be held under a partisan government.

Terming the enclave exchange activities historical events, BNP and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday expressed happiness over the freedom of around 52,000 people following the formal swap of 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India, reports UNB.

The party also welcomed the new citizens of the country following the amalgamation of 111 enclaves with Bangladesh territories.

‘Today is a glorious day in our national life. When the clock struck a minute past midnight yesterday (Friday), 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India were revoked. The flags of the two countries were hoisted there as the enclave people got back their citizenships following the Indian parliament’s ratification of the historic Land Boundary Agreement,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also greeted those residents of 111 enclaves for becoming Bangladesh citizens.