Hold national elections first, then local government polls: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "The national election should be held first, followed by the local government elections. BNP will not accept holding the local government elections before the national elections."

He said, "If the local government elections are held first, fascists will rise again, and the people of the country will not accept this."

Mirza Fakhrul also called on the advisers, saying, "If they wish to remain in the government, they should first resign and then participate in the elections. They are free to form a new party outside the government, but we will not accept any actions from within the government."

He made this statement while addressing the BNP rally as the chief guest at the Town Hall ground in Jessore on Tuesday (February 18).

The rally was organized by the district BNP as part of a nationwide ongoing program demanding that the government bring essential goods prices under control, improve the deteriorating law and order situation, announce an electoral roadmap quickly, and stop fascist conspiracies.

Mirza Fakhrul said, "Sheikh Hasina has tried numerous times to break the BNP but failed. BNP is a people's party. For 17 years, it has fought against autocratic rule alongside the people, and the ultimate victory came on August 5. The reforms for an interim government being discussed now were also raised by Khaleda Zia in 2016. This is not a new issue. Still, necessary reforms for the election should be made and the election should be held quickly. We are hopeful that the Yunus government will hold the national elections soon."