BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said the ruling Awami League does not want to hold election in fear of facing trial after leaving the power for its irregularities and corruption.

"Everyone including foreigners opined that a free-fair election with the participation of all parties is needed in the country. But Awami League wants to neither leave power nor hold the polls as it fears facing trial for its corruption," said the BNP chief at an iftar programme.

“The ruling party also doesn’t want to go to polls as they know it very well that they’ll face a serious debacle,” she added.

Khaleda said people in the recently held three city polls have shown the AL-led regime an example on how they will turn it down.

“If a fair election could be held, people could have given them a befitting reply,” said the former prime minister.

She further said that the opposition leaders and activists are landing in jails without committing any crime while Awami League men are continuing to hold their offices even after insulting Allah and the Prophet (peace be upon him), besides committing crimes such as killing, robbing and plundering public money.

Khaleda claimed that a gang of the ruling party men are involved in human trafficking in collaboration with law enforcers.

“They are trafficking hapless and jobless people, alluring them of providing good job abroad,” she said.

Islami Oikya Jote, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the iftar at a hotel in Dhaka.

Senior leaders of BNP, 20-party alliance, intellectuals, Islamic scholars and the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan in Dhaka attended the iftar programme chaired by Islami Oikya Jote chief Abdul Latif Nezami.