Staff Reporter :
The BNP on Thursday said it wants not to delay the upcoming national polls without any inevitable circumstances.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said it while submitting three new election-related proposals to the Election Commission (EC).
He said the party has no objection to the EC announcing the election schedule on time.
A three-member BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the EC headquarters in Agargaon.
Speaking to the media after the nearly 90-minute meeting, Nazrul said the BNP does not support delaying the national election unless there are unavoidable circumstances. “Therefore, BNP has no objection if the EC announces the poll schedule within the stipulated timeframe.”
Asked whether Khaleda Zia’s illness could impact the election, Nazrul said, “We expect she will recover soon and return to us, enabling her to participate in election-related activities.” Regarding the voter status of Tarique Rahman, he said, “He is a Bangladeshi citizen. There is no barrier to him becoming a voter. The Commission can enrol him whenever it wishes.”
Nazrul said the BNP has proposed increasing the number of polling booths, marking stations, and ballot seals for the upcoming 13th national election.
“We want every voter in the country to be able to cast their vote. The number of voters has grown significantly since the last election, so we placed this proposal. This time, a national referendum will be held alongside the parliamentary election, which will create additional pressure. The Commission will provide its decision on Sunday,” he added.
The BNP also urged the EC to allow expatriate Bangladeshis without National ID cards to register as voters using their passports. “If needed, the Commission can verify the passports. Many expatriates do not have NIDs. They should be given the chance to register with their passports,” Nazrul said.
To ensure election transparency, the BNP reiterated its objection to printing ballot papers at any private institution.
“Currently, ballot papers are printed at three government facilities. The BNP insists that no private institution be given this responsibility,” he stressed.
The other members of the BNP delegation were Ismail Jabiullah, a member of the party’s EC-related committee and former secretary, and Md Zakaria, former election commissioner and member of the BNP’s EC-related committee.
