BNP chief's election remarks distorted

BNP yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was trying to give a wrong impression to the people by distorting Khaleda Zia's recent remarks about the next national election.

"It's unfortunate that our chairperson's comments have been distorted. What she (Khaleda) said at the concluding session of our council was we want the next election to be held under a non-party government," said BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

"We hope the current prime minister will not be there in the election-time impartial government. But she will surely participate in the election to be held with the participation of all parties. It was the meaning of her (Khaleda's) statement. But her remarks were distorted to confuse the people," the BNP acting secretary general told the press at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

BSS reported that the prime minister on Sunday blasted Khaleda "for her ill motive to hold Hasina-free" polls in the future and alleged that the BNP leader was plotting another August 21 attack.

Fakhrul said, "We expected that the ruling party and its president would congratulate us for successfully holding the council to strengthen democracy."

AL is trying to create a controversy over the council, he added.

"We hope Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, its leaders and ministers will accept our chairperson's call...and take steps for resolving the political crisis through discussion."

Asked about a report of The Daily Star that Khaleda did not consult about her "Vision 2030" draft proposal with party standing committee members, Fakhrul said the report was not correct.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the newspaper knew nothing about the issue.

When mentioned that a standing committee member had admitted to have known nothing about the draft, Nazrul said the leader made the comment without knowing the matter.