Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud today said his party wants BNP`s full-strength participation in the national election but BNP is looking for excuses to flee from the polls.
He was replying to a question while exchanging views with journalists at his Minto Road official residence in Dhaka.
About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir`s comment that the government is hatching conspiracy to oust the BNP from the field and lodging cases against BNP leaders and arresting them, Hasan said: "We want that the next general election to be held in a free, fair, neutral, transparent, and festive manner with the participation of all parties."
"But the irony is that BNP always flees from polls. Mirza Fakhrul and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi are making such comments to create excuses for running from the elections," he said.
The AL joint general secretary said BNP`s target is not to take part in elections rather they want to foil the election and make it questionable.
BNP leaders` comments give the impression that they want a guarantee of winning and if they get it, they will join polls otherwise they won`t do so, he said.
"But the people or the government or the Election Commission cannot give them such guarantees," he said.
The minister said people participate in voting extensively even though BNP doesn`t contest polls. It has been proved in the recent city corporation polls, he added.
How many people take part in an election is more important than the number of participating parties, he said.
"But BNP is a large political party. They were in state power. I am requesting them to join the election as we don`t want any walkover, but rather we want victory through the battle of votes," he said.
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