AL's exclusion from election a 'socially acceptable fact': Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday (30 November) said the next national election will be held excluding the Awami League, which is now "a kind of socially acceptable fact."

"It's kind of a socially acceptable fact that Awami League will not be part of the next national election," he said, while responding to a question on DCAB Talk.

Touhid said he does not think that Bangladeshi society has taken it very negatively that the election will be held without the AL.

He mentioned that the activities of the AL have already been suspended, but the party is not banned.

The next national election is scheduled to be held in the first half of February, and the government thinks it will be held in a festive and peaceful manner.

Responding to a question, Touhid said he does not think the election will be questionable if BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman does not return to Bangladesh.

He said the party's leadership is in fact in his hands, though he is not at home.

It depends on many factors, including law and order, whether the election will be held in a fair manner, he added.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the DCAB Talk, titled "Bangladesh's Foreign Policy: Charting a Relevant Role in a Changing World."

DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Md Arifuzzaman Manun also spoke at the event.