Fear of losing behind BNP wanting to boycott election: Hasan Mahmud

Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) doesn‍‍`t want to participate in the election as they realize there is no possibility of winning.

He was replying to queries from the journalists after participating in a memorial meeting for the late editor of Ekushey Patrika, Azad Talukder, at Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram Press Club as the chief guest.

Hasan Mahmud said that the election will be held on time and the people of the country will resist if anyone tries to obstruct the election, even foreigners never support the process of disrupting the elections.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister said, “BNP Secretary General said that they will not participate in any election under prime minister Sheikh Hasina, this actually proves that they are afraid of elections. People are not attending their programs and rallies as per their expectations. As a result, they realized that there is no possibility of winning the election."

"So BNP is walking on the path of obstructing the democracy of the country by resisting the election but it will not be allowed by the people of the country," he added.

Replying to a question about BNP‍‍`s ultimatum, AL joint secretary general said, "BNP has given such an ultimatum many times in the last 13-14 years. BNP‍‍`s ultimatum is nothing more than a hollow threat."

Wishing eternal peace to the departed soul of late Ekushey Patrika editor Azad Talukder, Hasan Mahmud said, he was a fearless journalist as well as a brave man. After being diagnosed with cancer, he knew that he was slowly dying. But he did not give up and continued fighting.

"A few days before his death, he told me a few things about how he was preparing for death. A man who knows he is on the verge of death, has no frustration at that time. I saw those characteristics inside him," he added.

Presided by Nazrul Kabir Dipu, acting editor of Ekushey Patrika, Chittagong BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Obaidul Karim, former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Chittagong University Md. Sekander Chowdhury, Rangunia Municipality Mayor Shahjahan Sikdar, Journalist Welfare Trust Member Kalim Sarwar, spoke on the occasion.