BNP will become isolated if it escapes elections: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud fears that if BNP escapes elections continuously, it will be isolated from the people someday. 

"Basically, BNP and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir gongs have no confidence on themselves. The BNP leaders know it that they have been isolated from the people due to lack of their confidence on themselves," he said. 

He was responding to a query of journalist after attending the special convocation of the Asian University for Women in Chittagong as the chief guest on Wednesday afternoon.

Noting that an election-fear has gripped BNP and that's why the party is saying 'no' to elections using both electronic voting machines (EVMs) and even the ballot papers, he said, "BNP was opposing the use of EVMs in elections. Now the Election Commission (EC) has announced to hold elections using print ballots; but they are not interested in polls in that process, too".

Accepting the demands of opposition parties including BNP, the EC has decided to hold the elections using ballots instead of EVMs and vote through print ballots, the minister said, adding that so if now they organize their party and take part in the polls, it will be good for them.

Pointing that BNP is going through only on the path of conspiracy and trying to make the water troubled, Dr Hasan said they are spreading misinformation at home and abroad and trying to create chaos in the country by appeasing the foreigners. 

"But these will yield no benefit for them," he said. 

Referring to the previous parliament elections, Dr Hasan said, "In 2008 elections, (BNP) got 29 seats by utilising their full strengths. They escaped the 2014 elections. They got only six seats in 2018 election even after forming alliance with all including rightist-leftist, extreme rightist-extreme leftist and Taliban. Later, their total seat stood at seven including a reserved seat for women". 

BNP and their allies have no confidence in the election or the democratic system because they know that they have no possibility to win this election too, he said. 

Earlier, in his speech, at the special convocation of Asian University for Women, the information minister said it is the only university in the country where the government of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has allotted 140 acres of land and which main patron is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni is the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the university, he said, adding that no other private university in this country receives such grants from the government. 

"We are discussing about the application (given) to the government for allotting more land to establish a medical school in Chittagong under this university," Dr Hasan said. 

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, women have not only been empowered politically, but also empowered economically, the AL joint general secretary said, adding that female students, who finished their higher education from universities, are not only educated but also qualified to contribute to the society by being self-reliant.

The information minister thanked the university authorities for establishing it in his own city Chattogram and said, "Many graduates of this university are contributing to the progress of the society and women. For providing quality education, students of Asian university are more qualified than other universities in many aspects".