The BNP has declared its plan to continue street protests against the new government to be formed after Sunday’s election described by the opposition party as ‘illegal’ and ‘undemocratic'.

A day after the voting in the election which it boycotted, the party’s Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan called the polls ‘one-sided’ at a media briefing at Chairperson Khaleda Zia's office at Gulshan in Dhaka on Sunday.

“The statement of 63 political parties in favour of democracy and the BNP is very clear today. The people boycotted the government’s illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional management of Sunday’s election,” he said.

“It has become clear to everyone at home and abroad that the Awami League tried to legitimise the election through a farce under the shadow of the voting on the 7th of January.”

“If the ruling party tries to cling on to power by force, it would be considered illegal, undemocratic and unconstitutional not only to the people of Bangladesh, but also to the global community that believes in democracy."

"The BNP will continue its peaceful and democratic protests to implement its pledge to establish a people’s government by the people’s will and vote.”

The Awami League is set to form a government after winning a fourth straight term and fifth overall in power by sweeping Sunday's general election.

The BNP launched the antigovernment protests in 2009 after being defeated in the 2008 polls by the Awami League. The opposition boycotted the polls for the second time in the last three polls.

The BNP had gathered momentum in its protests to press its demand for a non-partisan government to oversee the election held on Sunday.

The party, however, returned to transport blockades and hartals, or shutdowns, resulting in renewed violence across the country after clashes with the police during its Oct 28 rally.

Moyeen said the BNP is a liberal democratic party which believes in peaceful politics unlike the Awami League, reigniting calls for people to gain strength to fight against the current ‘authoritarian system’.

“The BNP believes in people’s power," he said, "and it will restore people’s rights with their support.”

Moyeen also thanked the people for “boycotting the sham election”.

The party will announce its plans for further protests after its mass-contact drive and leaflet distribution on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to him.