Dhaka, June 16 -- The interim government must hold national elections to restore democracy, BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.

His comments follow a meeting in London on Friday between Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, which led to a joint statement proposing election in February next year.

"Elections have no alternative to restore democratic, political and constitutional rights," said Khosru, a member of the BNP's Standing Committee, at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport after returning from London.

He said political consensus had emerged among leaders during the London talks on the need for elections to transition from the current unelected administration.

"Everyo...