Shanon informed about BNP’s stance on next polls

Visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A Shannon yesterday at a meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia discussed the country's latest political situation, next general election and Rohingya issue.

Before leaving the country, a six-member US delegation led by Shannon met the BNP chief at the latter's Gulshan office and the meeting lasted for 45 minutes.

Emerging from the meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they mainly discussed the Rohingya issue and Bangladesh's latest political situation. “We had elaborate and fruitful discussions on the issues.”

Asked whether the next general election came up for discussion, Fakhrul replied in the positive, but said they could not disclose it.

A highly placed source in the party said Shannon wanted to know whether the party will participate in the elections and if so, under which circumstances it will participate.

The party briefed the delegation about its reasons for not participating in the last national election and why the election should be held under a non-partisan neutral administration, he said.