DHAKA: Criticizing PM Sheikh Hasina’s remarks during Wednesday’s press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said election is far off and you (PM) have already started to send everyone in jail.

Urging to create a level playing field before polls, Fakhrul warned that without it countrymen will not accept a 2014-like-election.

The BNP leader made the remarks while addressing a meeting organized on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in National Press Club on Thursday (May 3).

Earlier in a press conference on Wednesday (May 2), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “The decision whether a political party will participate in polls is completely up to them. We neither can force them nor can sand them to jail for participation. Can we?”

In response to that remark, Fakhrul said, “Why do you (PM) need election for jailing us since you are already jailing BNP men across the country.”

Fakhrul also questioned Election Commission’s role in Khulna and Gazipur City polls saying, “Some 19 BNP men were detained in Khulna on Wednesday night and EC announced that whoever goes outside of Khulna will be arrested. Why? What kind of election rule is it? The election commission is totally backboneless.”

BDST: 1704 HRS, MAY 3, 2018
AP