Foreign minister’s comments were personal, does not reflect govt or party: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud today said the BNP is afraid of elections and the foreign minister said it in front of US media as they (BNP) go to foreigners repeatedly on any issue.

He (the foreign minister) didn't discuss the matter with the US state officials, Hasan added.

He said, "It is his (FM) personal statement not our party's or government's."

The Awami League joint general secretary said this while talking to reporters at the Secretariat while replying to query over a comment of BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the foreign minister's request to the US authority to bring BNP to the next polls.

The minister said the BNP goes to foreigners for every issue. The BNP even wrote letters to the congressman to reevaluate the assistance which is being given to Bangladesh, and Begum Khaleda Zia wrote an article in the Washington Times on this issue, he added.

In fact, he said, the BNP is afraid of elections. "Even they boycotted the local government polls including Union Parishads. And it is not our responsibility to allay their fear. There is no alternative to polls to the politicians who believe in democracy, democratic system and the verdict of people," he added.

Hasan Mahmud today said the next general elections will be held on time to consolidate democracy and to advance democracy ahead.

"It is their own matter who will join the polls . . . the train of elections waits for none. And the next polls will be held on time to consolidate the democracy," he told reporters.

The minister said the train of elections was not waiting for anyone in 2014. Even, BNP was in confusion whether they would take part in 2018's polls or not though they took part in the elections later, he added.

"So, the train of elections would not wait for anyone," said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

The minister hoped that the BNP would take part in the next polls overcoming the fear of elections.

Replying to another query over BNP leader Ishraq Hossain, the minister said he is a warranted accused of an explosive case in 2019. "Besides, he was also accused of other cases. For this, he was arrested," said Hasan.