Polls-Time Govt: Fakhrul hopes the stalemate will end

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday expressed optimism that the government would reach an understanding through talks over holding the next election in a neutral and credible manner.

"I'm an optimist person. I always hope good things will come out. Ice may not melt in one day, but I'm confident it'll someday. The current stalemate can't last for long. I believe a path of understanding will appear through talks," he said.

He made the remarks while talking to journalists at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader warned the government that it would have to pay a heavy price if it did not come forward to resolve the crisis over the national election.

He said their party had long been calling upon the government to hold talks to save the country and the nation.

Fakhrul said they already made a proposal on strengthening the Election Commission and deploying army during the election for the sake of acceptable polls.

He said they were also talking about an election-time supportive government to hold a neutral and inclusive election. "Our chairperson will unveil our proposal on the supportive government very soon before the people, and we hope it will be acceptable to all."

The BNP secretary general said their party thought the Election Commission should be made stronger so that it could play the effective rule during the election. "We've already outlined how the country will be run and which ministries should remain under the Election Commission during the election."

He alleged that the government squeezed the democratic space in the country to cling to power after being alienated from the people.

The BNP leader said they could not understand the government and its intention. "It's not clear what the government actually wants."