Even if there is no announcement about whether BNP will participate in the upcoming National parliamentary or not, the work of selecting candidates is going on secretly.

Under the guidance of BNP High Command Tarique Rahman, the party is also preparing for the elections in addition to the agitation on the streets. In this regard, he has given instructions to the concerned leaders long ago. Multiple leaders are working in each constituency.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Our party is a 100 per cent election-oriented party. The government has been formed several times through elections. BNP does not think of any alternative to elections. But it should be under caretaker government.”

“That is why we have come to the streets to demand 10 points. If a neutral government takes over tomorrow BNP will prepare to go to the elections under them the next day. But the party will never participate in any election under this illegal government,” he added.

Another member of the paty’s Standing Committee said that no matter when the election is, there should not be much speed in the selection of BNP candidates. Because during the election of the 11th National Assembly the list of names of thousands of candidates in 300 seats is already there.

From here, the parliamentary board of the party will take the final decision under the guidance of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman by looking at the position of the deed and the area.

Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, member of the Standing Committee told Bangladesh Pratidin, “BNP is ready to go to the polls at any time after establishing a non-partisan government. Ten-point demand movement is going on. After this demand is fulfilled, the party must go to the elections.”

“However, it is very clear that under the current government, just as BNP will not go to the elections, the people of this country will not allow any elections to be held under this government.,” he added.

Shaukat Mahmood, vice-chairman of BNP told Bangladesh Pratidin, “As a whole, the BNP-led movement has reached the stage - the question of elections does not arise except under a caretaker government. The deep political crisis that is going on in the country has been accepted by the government.”

“Keeping in mind the apprehension that the next election will be held under a neutral caretaker government, the nomination for the post of President has been made. So that, even if the caretaker government comes to power, he can play a role in keeping the situation in their (Awami League's) favour,” he added.

Professor SMA Faiz, former Vice Chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University told Bangladesh Pratidin, “It is everyone's expectation that a beautiful and harmonious atmosphere will prevail in politics. And the election will be held in a free, neutral and fair environment. Where people vote to elect their preferred candidates and democracy is well established, everyone hopes.”

Barkat Ullah Bulu, vice chairman of the party said, “All the organizational activities including our movement and struggle are for a free, fair and impartial election. So all this is part of the election preparations. We have already held 10 departmental mass meetings across the country. There have been millions of people. People are excited. They are ready for the election.”

“But not under this government. According to the wishes of the countrymen, the next parliamentary elections will be held under a neutral non-partisan government,” he added.

Meanwhile, from August 22 last year, the BNP nomination aspirants of every area of ​​the country have started their activities in their respective areas.

On the instructions of the party’s high command, secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has given instructions to the leaders of all parliamentary constituencies to come to the field. He instructed to stand by the leaders and workers in prison. Later, he asked to collect their follow-up report as a record. Political analysts are considering these activities as a part of election activities.

On the other hand, several sources of BNP said that the leaders expelled from the party on various charges will be brought back to the party before the election.

BNP leader Engineer Ishraque Hossain said, “We are in a larger movement to demand a neutral government during elections. There is no question of going to elections under the current government. BNP will only need a week to prepare for the elections if the demands of a neutral government during the elections are met.”

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on February 14 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.