Staff Reporter:
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Wednesday expressed doubts over whether the interim government will hold the election timely in line with people’s expectations as some cohorts of Awami League affili-ates are trying to mislead the Chief Adviser to disrupt the polls.
“The Election Commission (EC) will conduct the election as per people’s expectations. Dr Muhammad Yunus has placed us in an embarrassing situation by suggesting that the election will be held in Decem-ber or June,” he said at a discussion.
Ganatantra Forum organized the program titled ‘Democracy, Reform and Reality in the Current Con-text’ at the National Press Club yesterday.
After the Chief Adviser said the election would be held by December, the BNP leader pointed out that one of his officials had stated it would take place by June. “He (CA) later endorsed it. So, there is quite a strong argument to be made that this is an effort to prevent the election from taking place.”
Abbas, a BNP Standing Committee member, said there is a saying—hope for the best and prepare for the worst. “From that worst-case thinking, I believe the government probably won’t hold elections any-time soon. I see no indication of that happening. This is my personal opinion, not my party’s.”
He alleged that a smokescreen has been created around the upcoming national election due to the imma-ture and childish behaviour of certain political parties.
“What some parties have begun saying—that there will be no election unless this or that conditions are met—is deeply concerning. If this, how the election will be held,” the BNP leader said.
