BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party has no interest in the dialogue that the new Election Commission (EC) has initiated ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.

"We said earlier that we're not involved in this EC formation process in any way, and we won't be involved in anything (dialogue) of it," he said. 

Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave, Fakhrul also said it is not possible for even a good EC to hold a free, fair and impartial election if the government is not neutral during the election period.  

"That's why we aren't interested in it (dialogue).  We have no headache about who's invited to the talks and who are or aren't joining it, and who aren't and what they're saying. Our only demand is the presence of a neutral government during the election period," the BNP leader said.

Earlier in the morning, new Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal sat in talks with 15 civil society members as part of the commission's ongoing dialogue to prepare for a roadmap for the 12th national election.

Although 40 civil society members were invited to the dialogue, only 15 of them took part in it. 

In the political context of Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it is important what kind of government will remain in power during the election period.

He said the absence of many invited guests in the talks has proved that the civil society also has no interest in it because of their previous experience. "We've had experiences from the last two or three elections as well as the local government polls that no election can be held without an impartial government.

Fakhrul said people have been in a movement for reduction of prices of essential commodities and protesting the increase in prices of gas, electricity and water. "We're totally against any increase in the prices of gas, electricity and water, as we consider such an initiative as an anti-people move."

He said people across the country are already struggling to cope with the soaring prices of essential commodities. "If the prices of water, electricity and gas are increased now, the prices of all commodities will go up further. We don't support it in any way."

The BNP leader urged the government to back off from its move to increase the price of gas. 

Fakhrul along with the leaders and followers of Zia Parishad went to Zia's grave around 11:30am and placed wreaths there, marking the organisation's 34th founding anniversary.