Polls boycott can exclude parties from future politics
Any party has the right to skip a national election, but those who do so with excuses risk being sidelined from future politics, said BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.
"Demanding PR (proportional representation) or a Constituent Assembly is a political tactic, and these statements are aimed at stirring up the field. The election mood is present in the country, and whoever speaks against it will be minus," he told reporters at his Gulshan home yesterday.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Salahuddin said the polls would be held in early February, a week before Ramadan as the government has assured. There is no doubt about it.
"But one or two parties are trying to create confusion... this may be their strategy. In order to maintain the national unity against fascism, we hope for a fair election. This election will be a historic event in political history."
BNP has found some aspects of the July Charter unreasonable, he said.
The party will join the consensus commission's discussions with alternative proposals, Salahuddin said. "Nothing can be placed above the constitution. Political parties will reach a consensus through talks."
He said BNP does not want any complexity over the national election under the interim government.
"This government has been formed with everyone's consensus … We expect that the election will be held within the time announced by this current government, there is no scope for thinking otherwise."
Responding to a query, the BNP leader said there is no chance of forging an alliance with Jamaat.
"Discussions are ongoing with some Islamist parties, there may be an alliance with them, but nothing is final yet."
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