The Speaker of the national parliament, Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, said on Thursday that free, fair and neutral elections were necessary and that elections had not been fair for the past 17 years.

Speaking to reporters at the Circuit House in Bhola, he said people who were not wealthy but enjoyed popular support and social acceptance should be given the opportunity to contest elections. The Election Commission, he said, must devise a system that allows ordinary people to run for office.

Ahmad said his political experience suggested there was no prospect of Sheikh Hasina returning even within the next decade. He said the Awami League, whose activities are now banned, had created an environment during its time in power in which honest, good and neutral people could not take part in elections. Fundamental reform of the electoral system was therefore needed, he said.

The parliament speaker said Bhola had adequate natural gas, with its reserves appearing to equal the country’s current reserves, and that further reserves were expected to be found.

Residents needed gas and had suffered for a long time, he said, describing access to it as their rightful entitlement and a long-standing demand. Ahmad said he would speak to the energy minister about the matter.

Ahmad left for Dhaka at 11:30 am after a three-day visit to his Lalmohan-Tazumuddin constituency.