Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has asked the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to specify which Eid they are referring to when they would announce their post-Eid strategy.

“We’ve been hearing these things for 14 years. People now find Mirza Fakhrul's words ridiculous. And he said 'after Eid', but he did not specify which Eid it would be. My question (to him) is, which Eid they are talking about,” the minister said while talking to reporters at his official residence after returning from an official trip to Europe this morning.

The minister wished everyone a happy Eid-ul-Fitr and wished them a safe journey.

Regarding the BNP’s participation in the upcoming city polls, the info minister said: “Although the BNP has stated that they will boycott the election, it is evident that their leaders are more than willing to participate.”

“The BNP leaders have already fought in previous elections independently. We welcome them to the upcoming polls,” he added.

The minister said the BNP will cease to exist if they don’t participate in the upcoming parliamentary election.

“The Election Commission will hold the election and the government will provide all support to ensure free, fair and participatory elections in a joyous atmosphere. Election observers will be there. And we hope that BNP will participate,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister said the US Embassy in Dhaka has shared the Deutsche Welle documentary on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from its official Facebook page at the instigation of the opposition party.

“It is evident from the comments of the US State Department that it is not always aware of the various activities of the US Embassy in this country,” he said while answering question regarding a comment made by a US State Department official stating -- while addressing the press -- that he’s unaware of the fact that the US Embassy in Bangladesh has shared the DW documentary.