It would have been better if BNP joined polls: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazil Habibul Awal on Monday said that it would have been better if BNP had joined the 12th parliamentary election scheduled for January 7.

The CEC made the remarks after emerging from a meeting held with the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh at his commission office in Dhaka on Monday afternoon.

“My personal comfort or discomfort is not an important matter. However, it is true that a major political party is not joining the election. It would have been better if the BNP had joined the election,” he said.

About the outcome of the meeting with the Japanese ambassador, he said they (Japan) have expressed their eagerness to oversee the national election.  

“Japan puts great importance on our national election and expresses eagerness to oversee the election. We warmly welcome their involvement,” he said.

Responding to a query, he said the commission is responsible for holding the election in a free, fair and inclusive manner.  

“I repeatedly invited the BNP leaders to engage in talks with the commission and participate in the election, but the party has not shown any interest," said the CEC.