BNP today alleged that Awami League wants to hold the next general election like the previous one held on January 5, 2014, through the search committee.

The party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the reaction this afternoon, hours after the president formed the search committee for reconstitution of the Election Commission.

“BNP has come to know through media that President Abdul Hamid formed a six-member search committee. We had seen a ray of hope when the president initiated the talks. But that hope turned into frustration and uncertainty,” he said while addressing a discussion in Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

Terming the committee as Awami League-backed, he said the committee members — PSC chairman, CAG and pro-VC of Chittagong University — are appointed by the government.

“Awami League wants to hold election like January 5 again through this search committee,” Mirza Fakhrul also said.

The BNP secretary general said his party hoped that it will get a neutral decision.

“A scope was created to resolve the crisis but he did not accept it. Now it is understandable what sort of Election Commission will be formed by this search committee,” he added.