In the question of the upcoming elections, BNP wants to sustain pressure on the government; the party has taken a decision to call on influential foreign states to adopt a moral stance over the holding of free and fair elections.
As part of this initiative, a BNP team recently went to India.
On Monday, 25 June, at the BNP’s regular meeting of the international wing, a decision was taken to communicate to foreign development partners the need to secure the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia.
At the meet, BNP Standing Committee member, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairman, Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, adviser Sabehuddin Ahmed, Reaz Rahman and others were present.
Enam Ahmed Chowdhury told Bangla Tribune: “we discussed ways to hasten the release of party head, Khaleda Zia, and efforts to increase foreign connections.”
On the first week of June, a BNP team including Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP vice chairman, Abdul Awal Mintu, and international affairs general secretary, Humayun Kabir, went to India, reportedly, with the cognizance of Tareq Zia.
Another BNP team may go to India in the next one and a half month.
Officials of BNP’s diplomatic wing said: party leaders will be visiting several countries in Asia, America and Europe.
Before Eid, BNP organizational secretary, Emran Saleh Prince, went to Australia. He told Bangla Tribune: “On behalf of BNP, I went on an invitation from the Liberal Party of Australia to take part in their convention.”
One member of the BNP standing committee said that influential countries do not want a skewed election in 2018.
Several foreign embassies asked BNP to communicate with India prior to the national election, added the standing committee member
Talking to Bangla Tribune, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “countries supporting universal human rights have expressed interest in neutral elections.”
BNP diplomatic wing feels that with the India tour, the party has found a successful political strategy since the Indian media published critical comments of BNP leaders against the current regime in Bangladesh.
One BNP leader, who was part of the India tour, told Bangla Tribune: “we are certain from the trip that this time India’s role prior to the election will not be so biased.”
We want India to help us organise a free and fair election, opined BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other party policymakers.
Over relation with India, Amir Khosru Mahmud added: “there have been recriminations in the past; we want to go beyond that and move forward.”