Delwar hints at demand for mid-term polls

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said demand for mid term elections might be raised if the present situation continues.
“We will seriously think about snap polls if the government keeps shifting blame on our shoulder for its failure to run the country,” he said while talking to newsmen after offering fateha at late President Ziaur Rahman's grave on the occasion of 2nd founding anniversary of 1980s Student Leaders Forum, an organisation of former Chhatra Dal leaders.
The government could not start any task to fulfil its electoral pledges to deal with the crises like power, water and gas shortage, he said, adding that government is showing its failure in every sector.
Replying a query, Delwar said, “This (mid term election) has not yet been discussed in our party forum but if the government keeps on shifting its failures on BNP's shoulder, then we'll consider it seriously.”
Earlier on Saturday BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at a rally at Paltan asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to quit before time runs out if her government cannot resolve electricity, water and gas crises.
Delwar also reiterated Khaleda Zia's allegation regarding militancy in what she said there was no militant in the country as the BNP government brought all militants under trials.
“The government is hatching conspiracy to bring foreign troops by disseminating propaganda instead of combating militants,” he said, adding that government can resist militancy using the existing laws but it is busy campaigning.
Asked about the parliamentary probe against his graft allegation, Delwar, also a former chief whip of the parliament, said the allegation brought against him is baseless.
About reorganisation of BNP at the grassroots level, he said convening committees at district and upazila levels would be announced soon and BNP's associate organisations will also be reconstituted.
Leaders of the forum Babul Chowdhury, Ferdous Ahmed Khokon, Najibullah Chowdhury and Monirul Islam Monir, among others, were present.
Meanwhile, BNP will bring out a procession from party's central office today protesting 'the government's failure to resolve sufferings of people's life.'