BNP on Sunday told the visiting two US Congressmen --Rich McCormick and Ed Case—that a credible election is not possible under the current Awami League government and the caretaker government system can be restored through political negotiation.
On behalf of BNP, party publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne joined a tea-party-cum meeting with the two US politicians at the residence of US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas.
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Apart from BNP, leaders of the ruling Awami League and the main opposition in Parliament Jatiya Party joined the programme.
Talking to UNB after the meeting, Anee said he joined the programme at the invitation of the US embassy and presented his party’s position on the next polls.
He said the US leaders wanted to know about their party’s position about the next election. “I told them a fair election is not possible under the current one-party government. So, the election must be under a neutral caretaker government.”
The BNP leader said he also narrated how the lopsided and rigged elections were held under the current government in 2014 and 2018.
As they asked about the solution to the political crisis, he said most political parties are in favour of holding polls under a neutral government and the caretaker system can be restored through a political understanding.
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Anee said their party is hopeful that the next election will be held in a free and fair manner under a neutral government.
The BNP leader said he also highlighted some other issues, including the human rights situation in the country, attacks and repression on opposition leaders and activists, harassment of BNP leaders and workers with false cases, directed verdict against them and the prevailing political situation in the country.
Anee said he will inform his party about the outcome of the meeting.
Republican Congressman Richard McCormick from Georgia's 6th Congressional District and Democrat Ed Case, who represents Hawaii's First Congressional District, arrived here on a four-day trip.