Election can't be fair under present govt

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna yesterday rejected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal of holding the next general election under her government.

“We believe the election under the present government cannot be free, fair, participatory and acceptable. The prime minister will have to give a clear proposal in this regard,” he told a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.

“The prime minister will have to clarify immediately what she meant by the election-time government because there is nothing mentioned about it in our constitution,” Manna said.

In her address to the nation on Friday, the PM said the next election will be held under an election-time government in line with the constitution.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance termed her proposal ambiguous and unclear, saying her speech will lead the country towards further crisis.

In a written statement, Manna also said there cannot be any election with the current parliament operational.

He said the prime minister has to ensure a level playing field if she wants all parties to take part in it.