On the same day the statement of the Pre-Election Assessment Mission came out in the media, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Qadir also talked about talks. Speaking to the media at the press briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said that if BNP withdraws its conditions then talks can be considered. But there is no scope for any conditional talks. Earlier, Obaidul Qadir had said that BNP has closed the doors of talks by calling for the resignation of the government.
On the other hand, BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that only if the government announces resignation in principle, then talks can be held with Awami League on the government at the time of elections.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Haq said there can be no talks outside what is stated in the Constitution or prevailing laws. Highlighting the different stands of freedom of expression, dissent and the government, the Law Minister said, “We have agreed to almost everything they said. There can be no dialogue outside the support of the Constitution or prevailing laws. If the Constitution and If anyone contests elections within the ambit of law, then there is no need for talks.
When elections come, the ruling party points towards the Constitution and the people. BNP leaders also did the same when they were in power. But the only way to find out who people support is through free, fair and inclusive elections. They don’t want to accept it.
On this pretext, the BNP government conducted elections on 15 February 1996. If the 1/11 change had not happened they would have done the same in 2007.
Awami League had conducted similar elections in 2014 and 2008 also. The BNP and most other opposition parties boycotted the 2014 elections. All parties took part in the 2018 elections, but most people could not vote. A youth survey found that 53 percent had not voted in national elections. Many among the elderly population also said that the last time they voted was in 2008.