BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s demand for holding the next general election under a non-partisan interim administration is not malicious rather political, the party’s Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said today.

“Khaleda Zia didn’t bring any personal allegation against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rather she, in her speech yesterday, said that the people of Bangladesh will not participate in the upcoming general election if it’s held under Sheikh Hasina or the present government,” Nazrul said.

“It’s a political speech. It’s not a matter of expression of spite towards Sheikh Hasina,” the BNP leader said while addressing a programme at the National Press Club in Dhaka this noon.

In his reaction to BNP Chairperson’s comments at the Suhrawardy Udyan rally yesterday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Khaleda Zia's remarks were nothing but an expression of spite towards Sheikh Hasina.

About the BNP chief’s demand for a non-partisan interim administration and army deployment with magistracy power for holding the next national election, Quader said the polls would be held under the Election Commission, like most other countries.

“It is people’s demand and consistent with their aspirations and political too. Khaleda Zia spoke clearly that she doesn’t believe in politics of vengeance,” the BNP leader further said.

If the ruling Awami League believes in democracy and development of the country, then it will take the challenge given by Khaleda Zia to hold the next general election under a non-partisan administration, he added.