Dhaka: BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Saturday said the government must reach an understating with their party for holding a participatory general election.

‘An inclusive election is not possible without BNP’s participation. So, the government must reach a compromise with BNP,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail will pave the way for holding the participatory polls.

Bangladesh National Human Rights Parishad arranged the programme on people’s voting and human rights at the Jatiya Press Club.

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, said they will ensure the fall of the government through forging an all-party unity if it does not come to negotiation. ‘We’ll have to create a national unity to face the challenges for the restoration of democracy. The government will be ousted through a mass upsurge.’

He also said there is no alternative to garnering a national unity to restore ‘democracy and people’s voting and other rights. ‘We’ll give proper programmes at a suitable time to unseat the autocratic regime.’

The BNP leader said the government is using the lower judiciary to prolong Khaleda’s stay in jail by denying her bail in different cases through resorting to various tricks.

Moudud, also a former law minister, said their party needs to take to the streets alongside carrying out the legal battle for having Khaleda released from jail.

He came down hard on the Election Commission for what he said it subservient role. ‘The Commission was unmasked through the elections to Gazipur and Khulna city corporations.’

The BNP leader renewed their party’s demand for reconstituting the Election Commission as the current one is not capable of holding a national election.