Bangladesh's ruling Awami League today ruled out midterm polls and said a political dialogue with the main opposition BNP could be held only if it recognises the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Awami League leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif ruled out the possibility of a midterm election and said the government was constitutionally elected for a five-year term.
Hanif claimed foreign organisations which had opposed the government in earlier surveys were now stating in their fresh polls that 85 per cent people endorsed the steps taken by the government to maintain law and order and ensure continued economic development.
"So, the government has no plan to hold a midterm election to test its popularity," he told journalists after meeting Awami League leaders in Kurigram district.
On the issue of initiating a dialogue with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Hanif said, "A dialogue can be held with it only if it comes up with a proposal recognising the validity of the government. Otherwise, no dialogue will be held."
Hanif was quoted by bdnews24 portal as saying that though the BNP did not want to accept the government, the party was doing everything possible to win upcoming elections to local bodies.
The Awami League won the controversial January 5 general election, which was boycotted by the BNP and its ally, the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami. Since then, the BNP has refused to recognise the government and called for fresh polls.
