Khandaker Delwar Hossain, BNP secretary general appointed by its chairperson, yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) is trying to pull rank on the political parties to form “a rubber-stamp parliament through a stage-managed election”.
But, he warned, people would never accept that. He called on all political parties to unite in fight to scotch the “plans for a farcical election”.
Delwar was addressing a discussion arranged at the National Press Club by pro-Khaleda faction to mark May Day and the 29th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP.
The same day M Saifur Rahman, acting chairman appointed by the party's standing committee, said the election would not be meaningful without participation of the now detained heads of the two major political parties.
Speaking to BNP leaders and workers from Sylhet, he said, “They [Hasina and Khaleda] will have to be involved in the electoral process to make the polls meaningful.”
He said people would not support any election similar to the one held on February 15, 1996.
Pro-reform faction leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, acting secretary general made by the standing committee, were among those present at the gathering at Saifur's Gulshan residence.
Referring to soaring prices of essentials, the former finance minister said it shows that an unelected government cannot do things that a government representing people can do.
Delwar in his speech at the Press Club programme urged political parties and professional bodies to come forward to “rescue the country from the present crises”.
Accusing the EC and military-backed interim administration of hatching conspiracies, he said they are amending laws at will since they want to disqualify from the election the ones who always side with people.
“People won't accept any election under the present Election Commission and they will resist any foreign conspiracy linked to the upcoming election,” he said.
BNP chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah alleged that the caretaker government is working to protect interests of certain quarters.
Presided over by BNP Joint Secretary General and Sramik Dal President Nazrul Islam Khan, the discussion was addressed, among others, by BNP Joint Secretary General Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed.