Preparation for Bangladesh general elections hotting up

by Sanjay Jha | October 26, 2008 at 09:06 pm

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As the date for general elections in Bangladesh is nearing, all the major political parties have started preparing for the election slated for December 18. Bangladesh government has decided to provide former premiers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina with special security for three months from the next day after announcement of national election schedule. The caretaker government on February 22 last year withdrew special security.

In the meantime an alliance of smaller political parties have expressed their solidarity with tainted leader Khaleda Zia.

Leaders of the BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday said they would not participate in the December 18 election without Khaleda Zia.

They also demanded that the caretaker government clear the air over the BNP chief's polls participation before the announcement of election schedule on November 2.

They were addressing a gathering at the National Press Club auditorium.

"You must say loud and clear now if they [BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina] would be allowed to contest the election," said BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain.

"We want to make it clear that the four-party alliance won't take part in the election without Khaleda Zia," he added.

He, however, said they welcome the Election Commission's decision to unveil the polls schedule on November 2.

The meeting was organised as part of the alliance's countrywide programmes to press home the seven-point demand that includes lifting of the state of emergency, deferment of upazila polls and withdrawal of all 'false' cases against Khaleda Zia.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Bangladesher Jatiya Party (BJP) Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun and Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami, among others, were the speakers.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has invited many international observer for the parliament elections.

The EC will soon send letters to the home and foreign ministries requesting them to take special care so that foreign election observers do not face problems including visa complications.

A delegation from USAID, European Commission (EC), Asia Foundation, International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) yesterday had a meeting with the Election Commission at its secretariat to discuss matters relating to visa processing.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda, two election commissioners, M Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, were present at the meeting.

After the meeting Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters that the foreign organisations apprised the Commission of problems in visa processing.