BNP deciding not to contest next elections right

Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury speaks to DOT
It is the right choice of BNP that it decided not to participate in the next elections to be held under the current government. The elections include the by-polls of Dhaka North City Corporation.BNP-led Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain went abroad for medical purposes. His return will confirm if the alliance will participate in the elections.
But BNP can make its own decision and it has the right to do so. It is a different discussion whether the decision if wrong or right. Its standing committee and top brass are responsible for it. All elections in future will be held the way the last general election was held and as the prime minister’s adviser HT Imam said.
What is the meaning of “such elections”? Will law enforcers control voting, not the people? Then what is the point of holding an election? They will chase the opposition supporters and use police to arrest them, and threaten, eventually using lawmen to control voting. BNP may have taken the decision taking into account such issues. We are still there for the restoration of democracy. Our discussion will determine how we will survive. There has nothing happened that BNP will pull out of the Front. This has not even discussion if BNP will stay or leave the alliance. BNP never made any statement involving the issue. Rather BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir vowed to continue the protests by any means. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury is the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra. Based on an interview by Amirul Islam, translated by Sayeed Muhammad.