Information and Broadcasting Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that his party wants BNP's full-strength participation in the next national election but BNP is looking for excuses to flee from the polls.

The Minister said this in reply to a query during a view exchange meeting with journalists at his official residence on Minto Road in the capital on Friday.

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Rejecting the statement made by BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir that the government is conspiring to oust BNP, filing cases and arresting leaders and activists, Hasan Mahmud said, “We want the next national election to be held free, impartial, transparent and festive manner with participation of all parties."

"But the irony is that BNP always flees from polls. Mirza Fakhrul and Rizvi Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed are making such comments to create excuses for fleeing from the elections," he said.

The AL joint general secretary said BNP's target is not to take part in elections, rather they want to foil the election and make it questionable.

BNP leaders' comments give the impression that they want a guarantee of winning and if they get it, they will participate in the election otherwise not, he said.

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But, neither the people nor the government nor the election commission can give this guarantee. Even though BNP boycotted the elections, the people participated in a large way, which has been proved in the city corporation elections.

How many people take part in an election is more important than the number of participating parties, he said.

"But the BNP is a large political party. They were in state power. I am requesting them to join the election as we don't want any walkover, rather we want victory through battle of votes," he said.

Replying to a question about BNP's call for movement after the Eid, Dr Hasan said BNP often makes such comments.

Before the Eid-ul-Fitr, BNP also made such calls and now they are saying that they will wage a movement after Eid-ul-Azha but the question is - whether the movement will be after Eid of this year or next year.

Asked about BNP's allegations against AL centering mass media, the minister said if any party carried out repression and torture against media, it must be BNP.

During BNP's regime, Humayun Kabir Balu and many other journalists across the country were killed and especially many of those who were free-thinkers had to face tortures during that period, he said.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has taken many groundbreaking steps for the welfare of journalists, he said.

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Journalists Welfare Trust has been established and assistance of huge amounts of money were given to journalists during the Covid-19 pandemic, Hasan Mahmud added.