BNP asks 5 countries not to recognise Jan 5 polls

BNP leaders today in a meeting called upon diplomats of five countries "not to recognise" the January 5 "farcical and one-sided" election.

Diplomats of the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and South Korea were present at the meeting at Hotel Heritage at in the capital's Gulshan.

In the two-hour talks, Shamsher Mabin Chowdhury, a vice-chairman of the main opposition party, and Sabihuddin Ahmed, an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, apprised the diplomats of country’s latest political development, sources said.

They also briefed the foreign diplomats about the government’s bid to hold a unilateral election and its insincerity in continuing the dialogue with BNP, the sources added.

Chowdhury and Ahmed in the meeting said about BNP’s policy and stance over the ongoing agitation to protest the January 5 polls.

The BNP leaders requested the diplomats not to recognise the January 5 polls, added the source.