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Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday said that his party saw no obstacles to holding the next national election in February next year.

He came up with the remark while speaking to reporters on Friday after a courtesy visit to the director-general of Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Madrassah in Hathazari upazila in Chattogram.


‘We see no barrier to holding the election in February. There is no reason for worries. We hope that the government will soon make its position clear and guide the Election Commission accordingly,’ he said.

He was accompanied by another party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Chattogram divisional assistant organising secretary Mir Helal Uddin, and other party leaders during the visit.

Addressing journalists at the event, Salahuddin Ahmed said, ‘We are yet to receive any clear announcement from the government regarding elections in a proportional representation system. Once we receive it, we will share our views.’

Regarding the draft July Charter, Salauddin said, ‘The draft has been sent to all political parties by the National Consensus Commission. The final version of the charter will include the recommendations that have been agreed upon by all parties. Every party has pledged to implement the agreed recommendations within two years. We have made commitment to bringing about necessary amendments to the constitution and laws and regulations to make this possible.’

He further said that of the 826 reform proposals submitted by the consensus commission, the BNP had agreed to all but 51 while it expressed dissents on 115.

‘We have sought supplication, advice, and support from the leaders of Hathazari Madrassah. We hope to fulfill the aspirations of the thousands who were martyred or persecuted, including those injured, during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam movement. If the people entrust any other party (to run the country), our party will fully cooperate with them for the welfare of the nation,’ said Salahuddin Ahmed.

During their visit, the BNP leaders also offered prayers at the graves of late Hefazat-e-Islam leaders Shah Ahmad Shafi and Junaid Babunagari. They then held meetings with Mufti Khalil Ahmad Kasemi, the madrassah’s director-general, and Shaikhul Hadith Sheikh Ahmed.

Later, they visited Babunagar in Fatikchhari to meet Maulana Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, current amir of Hefazat-e-Islam, at Jamia Islamia Azizul Uloom Madrasa.

Earlier, on July 20, NCP convener Nahid Islam and organiser for North Sarjis Alam also paid a courtesy call to teachers and students of Hathazari Madrassah during their ‘July March for Nation Building’ campaign. They, too, offered prayers at the graves of Ahmad Shafi and Junaid Babunagari.