Election won’t be participatory if BNP doesn’t compete: CEC

The Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) election will not be participatory if opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) does not contest in the polls, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday.

“We invited BNP to take part in dialogue, they didn’t come. BNP has no confidence in us, they don’t even have confidence in the government. Even the government has said BNP needs to participation in the election. We want everyone to contest in the polls. The election won’t be participatory if BNP does not join in it,” he said.

The CEC on Tuesday night made the remarks in response to a question of a newsperson following a meeting to exchange views with high officials of Barishal division, regional election officers and officers of the district election office at the conference room of district administration.