TDS Desk:

BNP senior joint secretary general Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday warned that free and impartial elections would be impossible if party loyalists remained within the present government.

“If party loyalists remain in the government, free and fair elections are not possible — they must be removed,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP central office in New Paltan, Rizvi said the country has been deeply politicised across all state institutions, forcing many senior administration officials to leave the country.

He urged quick implementation of the promises in the “July Charter”, saying it has been broadly accepted and must be acted on without delay.

Rizvi alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina may have assumed her party’s dominance would be permanent, but added that public attitudes began to change after 5 August. He conceded, however, that the law-and-order situation is still far from satisfactory.

He also accused the authorities of obstructing the BNP’s normal political activities through numerous conspiracies and barriers.