Govt must hold talks for fair polls: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the government is bound to hold talks for arranging the next general election in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

“The government’s unaccountability to the people will be proved if it denies talks,” Fakhrul said while addressing a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office after a joint meeting this noon.

Earlier in the day, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at a function in Dhaka denied the possibility of holding talks with BNP on different grounds including democracy and upcoming general election.

“Awami League doesn’t want democracy in deed. It could have paved a path for talks with us for the sake of democracy and holding of the next general election in a peaceful manner,” Fakhrul said.

BNP does not want to mislead the nation by creating a violent situation in the country but want holding the next general election in a free, fair and peaceful manner through a mutual compromise, the BNP leader said.