No special move for BNP’s election participation: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today ruled out possibilities of any special initiative on her part to ensure BNP's polls participation unlike the past saying the 2018 polls would be held as parliamentary democracy is practiced in other countries.

"I'm not going to pour butter in an improper saucepan . . . (but) the election will not wait for the absentees (either)," she told at a press conference at her Gonobhaban residence, BSS reported.

Sheikh Hasina added a particular political party would have to decide if it would contest the polls but "I don't think that BNP will repeat the mistake it did in 2014".

The premier made the comments responding to repeated queries by newsmen on the issue when she also reminded all the "utter misconduct and humiliation" she faced from the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia ahead of the 2014 elections as she tried to reach her out.

The premier called press conference to explain the background and outcome of just concluded Cambodia visit but issues related to elections, Rohingya crisis, corruption charges against the BNP chief and her family virtually dominated the presser.

Sheikh Hasina, however, highlighted the achievements of her three-day Cambodia visit and future plan of the government to strengthen ties with Phnom Penh in different fields in a written statement at the beginning of the press conference.

Replying to a question the prime minister also ruled out possibilities of early elections saying that "the country is not in any crisis for which it should go for snap poll".