BNP’s demand for dissolving parliament is conspiratorial: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP's demand for dissolving parliament ahead of the next general election is conspiratorial. 

"Their [BNP's] target is to create a constitutional crisis in the country," he said while replying to a query after unveiling the cover of a book titled 'Gantabbyo Smart Bangladesh' in the auditorium of Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat. 

Principal Information Officer Md Shahenur Mia and Senior Deputy Principal Officer Md Abdul Jalil, among others, joined the event. 

Dr Hasan extended thanks to the PID for publishing the book containing 48 features on Digital and Smart Bangladesh. 

He said BNP's Wednesday's demand for the resignation of the government is not a new one. "But one issue is ill-motivated as they demanded that parliament should be dissolved," he added. 

He said according to the constitution, the existing parliament will remain functional until the next parliament is elected. 

Hasan said BNP's demand is a threat to democracy and it wants to impede the democratic process in the country. 

Replying to another query over BNP's road-march programme on July 18-19, the information minister said BNP often declares one-point demand. 

Last year, they declared one-point demand and said Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman would also join the rally, he added. 

But, their demand at last 'died in the field', he added. 

In 2018, BNP had announced that they would wage a movement when the punishment of Begum Zia would be implemented. But they couldn't wage the movement, he added. 

Referring to visits of EU and the US delegations, Hasan said the European Union delegation is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Election Commission. 

They came here as part of their preparatory works for sending observers and it is helpful in holding free and fair elections, he mentioned. 

Besides, he said, the visit of the US delegation is related to multidimensional assistance as they are development partner of the country. 

He said the US under secretary has visited Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar. It (Rohingya crisis) is a humanitarian crisis and Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave shelter to forcibly displaced   Rohingya people, he added. 

Hasan Mahmud said the visit of the US delegation is helpful in strengthening bilateral relations.