Staff Correspondent

Awami League presidium member and Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzaque has said the next general election will be held on time whether or not BNP participates.

“The election will be held 0n time as per the constitution. But we will do everything possible until the last minute to ensure that the BNP participates,” he said, expecting greater clarity on the subject by next September.

Razzaque made the remarks on Saturday at the Shaheed Smriti High School reunion and golden jubilee ceremony in Madhupur, Tangail. “Even without BNP’s participation, the election will be accepted internationally,” he said, adding that a faction of BNP may even participate in the election.

"After assessing and examining the election's overall condition, the world community will make a conclusion,” he added.

The agriculture minister also stated that the Awami League will always keep the door open for dialogue with the BNP.

“Dialogue is the most effective way to solve any problem. The Awami League is always open to dialogue. However, everything should be done in accordance with the constitution,” he said.

He claimed that the BNP is attempting to create chaos prior to the 12th JS election and said, “Recurrence of violence like in 2014-15 in the name of protest will be strictly dealt with. No blockade or strike will be allowed.”

The minister continued by pointing out that the BNP's calls to movement represent repeated failure over the course of the last 14 years.
“They will continue to fail and introduce a new program after failing once more this time. This unsuccessful movement will keep happening again,” he said.

The BNP and 32 like-minded opposition parties separately announced sit-in programs across the country on January 11 as their next course of action, to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and the formation of a poll-time caretaker government.