UNB, Dhaka :Stating that BNP has not backed off its stance on the election-time government, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday night said the national election must be held under a neutral government, not under Sheikh Hasina.”I told a meeting with Brahmanbaria lawyers that we want an election and join it as well. But that election must be held under a neutral administration. It was our clear stance, but some newspapers misinterpreted it and created confusion. There’s no change in our position in this regard,” she said.Addressing a views-exchange meeting with the newly elected office bearers of Rajshahi Bar Association at her Gulshan office, Khaleda further said, “People won’t get any chance to exercise their franchise if a Hasina-style election is held. So, the national election must be held under a neutral government and BNP will participate in it.”The BNP chief said her party, if voted to power, will introduce a new and positive trend of politics in the country. “We want to bring a positive change in politics. We need to forget the politics of vengeance.”She said, her party’s decision of boycotting January-5 election was a right one as Awami League had a design to manipulate the polls by stuffing ballot boxes before the start of voting. Coming down heavily on the Election Commission, Khaleda said the Election Commissioners should quit as they are indulging in anti-constitutional activities by making immature youths voters.She also demanded the commission not to enrol under-18 youths in the voter list during its updating. She lambasted the ruling party men for shooting a baby in its mother’ s womb during an intra-party clash in Magura and questioned why the ‘criminals’ involved in the incident are not yet arrested.Criticising the ruling party leaders for their remarks that BNP’s existence will be at stake, the BNP chief said BNP will survive all time as it is a people’s party and does politics for people.She alleged that the government is not standing by the flood-affected people in different areas of the country as it is busy plundering public money.Khaleda called upon her party men to extend their helping hands to the flood-hit people. About her party’s overhaul, Khaleda said no district committee will be constituted from the centre this time. “The grass roots leaders and activists will form their committees.”She suggested her party’s grassroots leaders form their committees with competent, honest and dedicated men rising above nepotism. BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, chirper’s adviser Khandker Mahbub Hossain, BNP joint secretary general Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon, pro-BNP lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali and Sanaullah Miah were, among others, present.
