Dhaka: BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday challenged the government to test its popularity through holding an acceptable election, as a survey conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) found it has gained popularity.

‘Why are they (government) afraid of arranging a fresh election if they have gained popularity? We want the government to hold a free, fair and acceptable election getting inspired with the survey results to test their popularity,’ he said.

Gayeshwar came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a free medical camp and voluntary blood donation programme at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a body of pro-BNP physicians, arranged the programme on the ground floor of the BNP office marking the party’s 37^th founding and the 7^th anniversary of the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her eldest son Tarique Rahman from prison.

Meanwhile, Nielsen-Bangladesh conducted a survey between May 23 and June 10 this year for the US-based research organisation IRI on Bangladesh’s politics and democracy. The results of the survey were published on Thursday.

As per the findings of the survey, Awami League enjoys more popularity than the other parties with 60 percent respondents liking and 29 percent disliking it. Some 42 percent like BNP while 46 percent dislike it, according to the survey.

‘In the 18 months following Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections on January 5, 2014, support for the ruling government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reached 66 and 67 percent respectively,’ according to the IRI release.

Commenting on the IRI findings, Gayeshwar said election is the only way to judge any party’s popularity.

The BNP leader said the country now lacks democracy, freedom of expression and press freedom, as it is under a one-party rule under the cover of democracy.

‘A movement for restoring democracy has been going on in the country and it will be re-established soon,’ he added.

The BNP leader renewed his party’s demand for holding a fresh election under a non-party administration to resolve the country’s political problems.

Claiming that 80 percent of the doctors are followers of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Gayeshwar alleged the government is harassing pro-BNP doctors removing them from their services.