Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said that they want the forthcoming 13th parliamentary election to be held in due time.
“We are in the election process. We hope that the election schedule can be announced. We are still saying that we want elections on time,” he said.
He was addressing reporters following a nighttime meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaba in Agargaon.
According to the top BNP leader, the party has long called for prompt elections in order to reinstate people’s right to vote.
“We have always been demanding elections as soon as possible … because we want to return the rights of the people to the people,” he said.
Khan said the people should be able to decide about their government by exercising their voting right. So election should not be delayed, he added.
He also mentioned that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will travel abroad for medical treatment on Friday morning.
“We hope she will recover very soon, and keeping this in mind, we have announced the names of some more candidates today as well,” he said.
He stressed that every voter must be able to cast a ballot and suggested expanding the number of polling places or extending voting hours if needed.
Additionally, the BNP leaders asked the Election Commission to make sure that only government presses be used to produce ballots.
“The EC told us that it will not be printed in any private press,” Khan said.
Additionally, the party requested that expatriate Bangladeshi citizens be allowed to register as voters using passports alongside National Identity Cards.
“Expatriate Bangladeshis regularly contact us about this matter. They want to become voters. Their passports should be taken into consideration,” he added.
BNP advisory council member Ismail Zabiullah and former EC acting secretary Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was also present.
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