<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The BNP on Tuesday demanded that the interim government arrange the next national election by August this year in the greater interest of the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We think that the election is possible in the middle of this year, and that means between July and August,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He made the remarks while addressing a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, discussing the outcome of the party's standing committee meeting held on Monday night.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fakhrul called upon the interim government, the Election Commission and political parties to take steps to arrange the election by the middle of this year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We believe there is no reason to delay the election when the Election Commission has been formed and relative stability has been restored in governance,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BNP leader said the Election Reform Commission formed by the government is also set to present its report on Wednesday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“So, we do not think there is any justification for further delaying the elections. The longer the delay, the deeper the political and economic crisis becomes,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fakhrul mentioned that they have long been saying there is no alternative to an elected government, as it is the cornerstone of democracy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">BN/KH</div>