DHAKA, June 7, (V7N) – BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today stated that April is "not suitable in any way" for holding national elections in Bangladesh.

Speaking to journalists after placing wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Eid-ul-Azha, Alamgir explained, "April is not the right time for polls in Bangladesh. There will be a possibility of extreme heat, storms, and rains during the period. And the time is right after Ramadan; there are public examinations as well."

He further noted that election campaigns would have to be conducted during the month of Ramadan, which he deemed difficult. "We think December will be most suitable for polls," he said.

"We gave our reaction yesterday. We have always demanded that we wanted the election by December, and so was the expectation of the people," Fakhrul added.

Earlier at 11:30 AM, Alamgir, accompanied by party standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Salah Uddin Ahmed, and AZM Zahid Hossain, paid tribute to Ziaur Rahman by laying wreaths at his grave. They subsequently participated in a special prayer seeking eternal peace for the late leader's soul.

Also present were the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, members of the Chairperson's Advisory Council Abdus Salam and Abdul Halim, Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, central leaders Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, Rafiqul Islam, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Mir Newaz Ali, and Aminul Haque.

It was noted that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia traditionally visited Ziaur Rahman's grave every Eid before her imprisonment in 2008. Due to her ongoing physical complications, the party's Secretary General and members of the Standing Committee performed the homage to the party founder's grave.

END/MSS/RH/