Dhaka, March 16 -- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said if the general elections are held late, the "fascist" forces will rise again.

Speaking at an Iftar organised by two organisations of journalists at the National Press Club on Sunday, he said militants and extremists, along with fascist forces, will try to take advantage of the vote being held late.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Bangladesh amid reform initiatives and demands for national elections, met with members of the National Consensus Commission and seven political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, on Saturday.

The BNP leader said elections would be held once the necessary reforms are implemented swiftly.

Fakhrul s...