Dhaka, Dec. 11 -- BNP on Thursday welcomed the schedules for the long-awaited national election and the referendum on the Reform Charter, describing it as a 'new chapter' in Bangladesh's political landscape.

"BNP has never had any fear regarding elections. We have always said that elections are the only way to overcome the crisis. Now that the formal journey on this path has begun, we welcome the announced schedule," party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told UNB.

Giving his party's initial reaction, the BNP leader said the schedule shows that Bangladesh has started its journey toward a desired democracy for which the people have risked their lives and struggled for more than a decade and a half.

"We are happy with the sc...