PM Hasina to see powerful opposition 'within short time': Fakhrul

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the prime minister will be able to see a powerful opposition party 'within a short time'.

"Within a short span of time, she will be able to see what she is willing to see (a strong opposition party) ," the BNP leader told a press conference at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office on Saturday.

While holding a view exchange meeting with the officials of the prime minister's office on Monday, prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her disappointment over 'the absence of a strong opposition party' in the country.

When Mirza Fakhrul's attention was drawn on the remarks in the press conference, the BNP leader said, "We don't have a taste to answer this. These are delivered to confuse the people by avoiding the main issues. We are talking about the issues as there is a strong opposition party."

The BNP secretary general said, "There is no opposition party in parliament because of them (government). They did not leave space for democracy in the country. We don't understand what type of strong opposition she is willing to see in a fascist state where there is no democratic space."

BNP organised the press conference to disclose the decision of the party standing committee meeting held on Friday afternoon.