The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday urged the interim government to ensure an environment for holding elections in a quick manner.

‘We will tell them to hand over people’s power to the people,’ BNP standing committee member AZM Zahid Hossain said after paying tribute to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at the grave of the late president in Dhaka.

The United Kingdom unit of BNP general secretary Kaisar Ahmad and other leaders of the unit paid tribute to Zia at the BNP founder’s grave on the occasion of the unit leaders’ arrival in the country.

Regarding the proposal from different political parties and civil society about a proportional representation system of election for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Zahid said, ‘We would like to clearly state that, since the independence of the country in 1971, elections were held according to parliamentary seats. No one can impose a PR system here. The people will decide the process to be followed in the election,’ he said.

The BNP believes that the electoral system in Bangladesh will continue following the constitution, he said.

He said that the 31 points given by the BNP had mentioned the kind of reforms the BNP wanted.

‘For the implementation of these 31 points, we will ask the interim government to create an environment for immediate elections,’ he said.

About speculation that the Awami League president and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hold a rally in India, Zahid said, ‘India is an independent country. We do not think that India will surely give its country to be used politically against other countries.’

‘We do not believe that Indian politicians and government are so stupid. Those spreading such news are doing this to heat up the field. Let them actually enter the field and see if the people accept them,’ he added.