BNP won’t hold dialogue with govt: Fakhrul

Mentioning that the promises which were given during the government’s dialogue with political parties before the 2018 election were not kept, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that they will not any dialogue with Sheik Hasina-led government.

“We do not say anything about holding dialogue (with the government). We will not hold any dialogue with Sheikh Hasina-led government. Because, she does not keep her promises,” Fakhrul told journalists at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka on Tuesday.

On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a press conference said that no dialogue will be held before the next general election, saying, “With whom we will hold the dialogue.” Mentioning that they held dialogue before the 2018 election and the BNP gave nominations after taking money and withdrawing their candidates, she questioned “What was the result of that dialogue?”

Mirza Fakhrul urged urged the Prime Minister to quit handing over power to a caretaker government if she is brave and confident enough that people love her.

He also said they will accept whoever comes to power in a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.

Mirza Fakhrul said they joined in a dialogue under the leadership Dr Kamal Hossain with the prime minister before the 2018 election. “In the dialogue, Prime Minister gave promises that police would no longer arrest, harass anyone and file ghost cases. But after three days, our candidates were subjected to arrest and torture. Leaders and workers had to stay on the streets instead of their houses.”

Mirza Fakhrul also said they will not sit in talks with those who put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail before the election in a ‘false’ case for no reason.

The BNP secretary general said, “How do you expect that the Prime Minister will remain in the power and the political parties would participate in the election? Today, not only BNP but also all political parties are saying that they will not join the election under this government. Even, CPB has also said that they will not go to the election under this government.”

Mirza Fakhrul said, “The prime minister yesterday said that she has no pressure. This remark proves that she has no responsibility towards the country and its people.”

Democracy must be freed, said the BNP leader adding that this ‘fascist government’ must be ousted through mass movement.

A real government of the people should be established through holding a fair and acceptable polls under a polls time government, said Fakhrul.