Fair elections not possible without non-partisan government: Mirza Fakhrul tells EU ambassador

Fair elections are not possible without a non-partisan and impartial government given the current situation of the country, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told the European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley during a meeting on Tuesday. 

"A delegation of the European Union will visit Bangladesh in a few days. They will meet with representatives of various political parties. Today's meeting was about that," the BNP secretary general told reporters following the meeting held at BNP chairperson's Gulshan office on Tuesday (4 July).

"There was a discussion about what we are thinking and doing about the next election," Fakhrul added. 

When asked about the position of the EU regarding the upcoming elections under a neutral government, Fakhrul said, "They have said many times that they want a free, fair and acceptable election in Bangladesh. A team will come to observe things. They will see whether there is a chance of free and fair elections in Bangladesh."

"We have made it clear that in the current situation of Bangladesh, elections are not possible without a non-partisan and impartial government," he further said. 

In response to the question whether there is any possibility of dialogue through the mediation of the international community, he said, "I cannot say anything in this regard now. Because there was no such discussion. There was a discussion about whether a fair election is possible under the government in the current state of the country."

BNP Secretary General and Human Rights Secretary Advocate Asaduzzaman Asad were present at the meeting.