Gopalganj: The government has no plan to hold midterm elections despite repeated calls from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its alliances, said Public Administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam, also the general secretary of Awami League, on Saturday.

He, however, said the prime minister reserves the constitutional right to disband parliament and hold elections at any time.

He was talking to reporters after paying tributes to the country’s first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave at Tungipara in Gopalganj.

Awami League leaders and activists visited the grave of the leader on the first day of August as part of a month-long series of programmes to mourn the killing of Sheikh Mujib and his family on 15 August 1975.

A prayer was session also held in the grave-side mosque.

He urged the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to observe her birthday on any day except 15 August.

‘The British Queen observes her birthday in the summer instead of winter considering suffering and plight of the people. Even if Khaleda Zia took birth on 15 August, she should prefer 16 August to cut her cake. Why should she cut her cake on the 15th? It is a question of decency. We, the nation, are very unfortunate if Khaleda Zia does not have this human quality,’ added Ashraful.