"I believe BNP will respond to the President's invitation and sit in dialogue"

Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Joint General Secretary of the  Bangladesh Awami League, said that when someone is elected unopposed, the excitement of elections is lost. Ordinary voters are disappointed when elections are uncontested. In our region, the history of elections for a hundred years has been that people celebrate the election with joy. Everyone sees the election as a celebration. Whenever someone is elected without any opposition, the public is disappointed and unhappy. This is never desirable among the general public.

Mahbubul Alam Hanif said that, according to the provisions of the democratic system and the constitution, since someone can be elected unopposed, it must be accepted. In an area where only one candidate runs, they are automatically elected uncontested. The major issue here is that, along with the BNP, several other parties do not participate in elections officially. As a result, their candidates run independently in many areas. On the other hand, in many places, they do not participate. In areas where they have a chance of losing or where the probability is higher, they are not participating in the election.

He said that where there is a possibility of BNP winning, they are participating in the election independently, even if not as part of a political party. The fact that they are not participating in the election in places where they fear defeat is creating an opportunity for our Awami League candidates to run unopposed. I believe that ordinary voters want to see multiple candidates in the election. When there are multiple candidates, it creates a festive atmosphere. This festive atmosphere is familiar to the common people, appealing, and that's what they desire.

M. Hanif mentioned that concerning the President's call for dialogue, the President is holding meetings with political parties with the aim of forming the Election Commission. In our country, the existing method of forming the Election Commission, in my opinion, is the best path. Since there is no law for the formation of the Election Commission, the Honorable President engages in discussions and consultations with all political parties and forms a search committee to verify and select names proposed by different political parties. Through this search committee, suitable individuals are selected for the Election Commission. I believe this is the best approach. For this best approach, when the Honorable President invites all the parties with discussions, it is a collective and contemporary effort to ensure that all political parties participate.

He said that perhaps the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lacks power for political reasons. Opposition political parties that are outside of power often criticize the government. They believe that if they speak against the government skillfully, they can benefit. Considering these factors, opposition parties may engage in various types of discourse.

But I believe that the BNP will accept the invitation of the Honorable President and participate in the dialogue. If they have any issues, disagreements, or thoughts regarding the elections, they can present all these claims to the Honorable President. They can speak their minds. If they present their claims or speak their thoughts in such a manner to the Honorable President, he can consider them. In that case, I think it's good for them. I believe that the BNP will engage in dialogue by accepting the invitation of the Honorable President.