Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said there would be no technocrat in the polls-time cabinet in line with the constitution.

If the Jatiya Oikyafront wants their leaders included in the polls-time government, it would not be possible, she added. 

“There are three or four technocrat ministers in my cabinet now. I will drop all of them,” she said during last night's dialogue with Jatiya Party-led United National Alliance at the Gono Bhaban last night.

“Since they [BNP leaders] were in parliament [during the 2014 election], I invited them to be part of the polls-time cabinet. But they rejected my proposal. This time they are not in parliament…. That's why it is not possible to include them in the polls-time cabinet,” a JP presidium member present at the meeting, quoted the PM as saying.

“If the BNP participates in the polls, JP would contest under the banner of AL-led grand alliance.”

In case the BNP doesn't contest the election, the JP would participle in polls on its own, JP Co-Chairperson GM Quader quoted the PM as saying.

In that case, the JP will remain in the opposition with dignity, another JP top leader said, quoting Hasina.

The PM called upon JP to primarily file nominations for all 300 constituencies in either case.

On a lighter note, Hasina said, “You may also form the government by winning the election.”

Another meeting would be held between the PM and a few top JP leaders to finalise who would get the AL-led alliance ticket in the next election.

JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader told reporters late last night that the JP leaders submitted an eight-point demand, including holding the election in line with the constitution, to the PM.

He said the dialogue was a success.

UNB reports that AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader told reporters after the meeting that the two alliances agreed to participate in the next elections in line with the constitution.

“A positive and constructive discussion took place in a very friendly environment, where the two sides reached consensus to contest the polls and form the government together,” it quoted him as saying.

Asked what would happen if the BNP boycotts the election, Quader said, “There will be an equation in the alliance in the light of the changed political situation.”

Hasina led a 23-member delegation while Ershad a 32-member team at the two-hour talks.