The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain said yesterday the leaders of four-party alliance will decide whether to go to the general elections or not.

"BNP along with other four-parties of the alliance want to participate in the elections. But the government has not fulfilled any of our seven- point demand that we have put forward for the sake of free and fair election," he told journalist at his NAM flat.

He made the comments following the dismissal of three separate writ petitions by the High Court challenging the EC's gazette on the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies that allowed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr ATM Shamsul Huda for declaring the election schedule on Sunday.

When asked why the leader of the Four-party alliance refrained from making any comments soon after the Election Commission (EC) announced the election schedules for the parliamentary and Upazila polls on Sunday, Delwar said they (four parties) would discuss the whole matter and take decision.

"We are looking into the whole matter under the present circumstances and will take decision in consultation with the alliance," he added.

Replying to a question whether BNP is ready for elections, the Secretary General of the BNP said, "We are ready for elections and discussing organisational and electoral issues with the party leaders and activists every day".

He, however, said the atmosphere for election is yet to come.

"Creating a level playing field is prerequisite for participation of all political parties in the election", he mentioned.

"The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon's comment during his to Bangladesh that a level playing ground is necessary for the parties for conducting a free and fair election. We also want the same," Delwar said.

It is mentioned that the secretaries general of the four-party alliance held a meeting on Sunday evening at the BNP Secretary General's NAM flat. The meeting was adjourned for another day and did not take any decision.

BNP and other component parties of the alliance had earlier urged the Election Commission (EC) not to declare the election schedule. But the EC's declaration of election schedule has prompted the alliance to sit for an urgent meeting that ended without any decision.