By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
A minister in the Bangladesh government yesterday ruled out any international pressure to hold midterm election in Bangladesh.
Reaction to a remark of BNP chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said the next election will be held, as per constitutional provision, in 2019 under the present regime. “You (journalists) can be hundred percent sure of it. And there is no international pressure upon the government regarding midterm poll,” he added.
Nasim, also the presidium member of the ruling party, was speaking after a meeting of the Awami League-led 14-party
alliance.
The meeting decided to observe a three-day programme under the banner of the 14-party alliance to observe the upcoming National Mourning Day.
Nasim, also spokesperson of the alliance, said that the meeting congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh government, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian government as well as all political parties of India for the implementation of the land boundary agreement.
“We hope that the other problems including the Teesta water-sharing deal will be solved,” Nasim added.
Last week, Zia said that the next election should be held under a neutral government, not the incumbent government.
“We want election and want to participate in them. That election should be held under a neutral government. It is clear. But some newspapers have misinterpreted it. Our position did not change. We said clearly that people will not get the chance to cast votes under (Sheikh) Hasina.
“So election should be held under a neutral government and BNP will participate in that election,” Zia had said.