Thakurgaon, Feb 10 (.) With two days left for national polls, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the party is highly optimistic of securing a landslide victory.
“We are very hopeful that the BNP will secure a landslide victory,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of potential electoral rigging or manipulation in the upcoming polls, the BNP leader said that he sees little possibility of any election engineering, citing the existing checks and balances.
“The way checks and balances and counterbalances are in place this time, I do not see much possibility of so-called election engineering in this election,” he said while speaking to journalists at his residence in Thakurgaon today.
However, acknowledging what he described as “lingering public apprehension” over the alleged manipulation of elections during the Awami League govt, he said “Over the past 15 years, there has been so much manipulation and so much engineering in elections that many people cannot even imagine a good election taking place.”
“Many people may hold political opinions, but when it comes to carrying out responsibilities, everyone should discharge their duties in accordance with the rules,” he added.
The BNP leader said the overall election atmosphere appears favourable. “A few incidents took place in the beginning, but afterwards, everyone exercised restraint. Up to now, I feel the atmosphere has been favourable for holding the polls,” he added.
Commenting on the party’s ultimate goal for this parliamentary election, he said that the BNP’s sole aim is the restoration of democracy.
“Our only expectation is the restoration of democracy. We have fought for the past 15-16 years for democratic transition,” he said, adding that the election would serve as a “gateway” to a democratic environment.
In response to a question about whether there were concerns that members of the Hindu community – currently one of the highest persecuted minority communities in the country by Islamists – might face obstacles in going to polling centres, Alamgir said such apprehensions could exist.
“Bangladesh will not turn into a paradise overnight. Some problems may remain,” he said, adding, “even so, by addressing these issues, those of us who are engaged in positive politics are encouraging everyone to go to the polling centres.”
“We are telling people: go to the polling centre and vote for whoever you wish. It is your right. That is what we are trying to ensure, and the administration is also conveying the same message,” he added.
When asked whether the party would accept the public vote, regardless of whatever it is, he said that the party has always done so, remarking “In 2008, when we secured 30 seats, we still joined the parliament,” he added.
Regarding the Jamaat’s election campaigning, he voiced caution and remarked “Jamaat is an extremely strategic party. They carry out their campaigns in various ways and through different tactics. They try to confuse people, including through social media.”
Regarding the matter of any kind of pressure within party lines, the BNP leader said the party takes every election seriously. “We never consider our opponents to be very weak. We contest elections with that mindset and try to secure results accordingly,” he said.
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