BNP meets leaders of Jamiat Ulama-e Islam, 12-party alliance, discusses election issues

BNP held two separate meetings today (31 January) with the leaders of Jamiat Ulama-e Islam and the 12-party alliance to discuss the country's current political situation and their future course of action to force the government to arrange the next election promptly, by implementing the necessary reforms.

A delegation from Jamiat Ulama-e Islam met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan at around 6:30pm at the BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan.

Contacted, 12-party coordinator Shahadat Hossain Selim told UNB that they discussed various issues, including arranging the election promptly, exerting pressure on the government to achieve this, and maintaining control over commodity prices and law and order during Ramadan.

He said the BNP aims to expand its alliance by involving other democratic, left-wing, and Islamic parties. "We have taken this positively and offered some suggestions in this regard."

In response to a question, Selim said they had not finalised any action programme to take to the streets to pressure the government for an early election. "We discussed the future course of actions, but BNP will make the final decision in discussions with other parties."

He said BNP will hold meetings with other democratic parties that participated in the simultaneous movement with them, as well as those willing to join its alliance.

Selim said they may observe various programmes simultaneously with BNP and independently, raising their voices to alleviate public suffering and press for the next election to be arranged after completing reforms, in discussions with political parties.