BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Saturday, "We hope the interim government will hold the election soon as the people want."
Speaking with the reporters after paying tribute to the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur marking the Martyred Intellectuals' day he said, "We're always optimistic. We're cooperating with the interim government. Hopefully, an election will be held as soon as the people want."
Fakhrul said people will get the opportunity to elect their representatives through a free, fair, and impartial election.
He said a new opportunity to build the country has been created by defeating the fascist forces through the student-led July-August mass uprising.
"By taking advantage of this opportunity, we want to establish Bangladesh as a truly democratic and modern state without discrimination," he said.
Fakhrul recalled the supreme sacrifices of the intellectuals during the Liberation War.
He said, "On this day in 1971, on the eve of victory, the Pakistani occupying forces abducted and killed prominent journalists, intellectuals, professors, scientists and civil society figures of Bangladesh. In 1971, we lost eminent people of the nation."
"On behalf of the Nationalist Party, on behalf of the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia and on behalf of the acting chairman Tarique Rahman, we all paid tribute today and seek forgiveness for the martyred intellectuals," he added.
Fakhrul said that the people fought in 1971 to build an independent, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh.
He urged all to take a vow to build a self-reliant, new democratic Bangladesh to materialise the dream of the martyred intellectuals and those who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country.
Fakhrul said, "We pray for the eternal peace of the martyred intellectuals."
Fakhrul along with some party senior leaders, paid tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city.
BNP kept the national flag at half-mast and hoisted black flags atop all its, offices including the central party at Naya Paltan to mark the day.
