BNP-led four party group decides to boycott local govt polls

Dhaka, July 1 (PTI) - A four party alliance led by detained
former premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party has
decided to boycott the upcoming local polls, saying it would
legitimise the "illegal activities" of the current regime.

"There is no question of legitimising the government by
taking part in a farcical election," BNP secretary general
Khandaker Delwar Hussain told reporters last night, after a
meeting of the alliance, which includes the fundamentalist
Jamaat-e-Islami.

Hussain also warned of stern actions against grassroot
leaders of the grouping if they contested the polls defying
the alliance's stand.

He, however, said the alliance could reconsider its
decision only if Zia and detained JI chief Motiur Rehman
Nizami were released, the ex-premier's two detained sons were
allowed to undergo medical treatment abroad and the current
state of emergency was completely lifted immediately.

"We will consider contesting the polls only if our
demands are met and the time has not yet run out," he said.

The four-party decision came two days after Zia's arch
rival ex-premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League (AL) eventually
decided to take part in the city corporation and municipal
elections slated for August 4, reviewing an earlier stand, in
a meeting of the party's working committee.

"After weighing the pros and cons, we have unanimously
decided to participate in the local government polls in the
interest of democracy, peace and stability in the country," AL
acting President Zillur Rahman had said earlier after the
working committee meeting.

The meeting insiders said most of the AL leaders
suggested the party should contest the polls, taking into
consideration "pro-election sentiment" of the people and that
of the party's rank and file.

Media reports said BNP too was under severe pressure from
grassroot level activists and leaders, who were willing to
participate in the polls.

Hussain, who leads the "conformist" or "loyalist" faction
of BNP accused the Awami League of striking an "entente" with
the military-backed government that was installed after the
imposition of emergency on January 11, 2007, amid heightened
political tension and growing street violence.

Street clashes between political opponents had become
common in the country ahead of the now postponed general
election, originally slated for Jan 22 last year.

"This government came to power with the help of Awami
League and the blessings of foreign quarters," he said.

Awami League had earlier expressed its reservation about
the city corporation and municipal polls, ahead of the general
election planned for the third week of December this year,
while BNP had vowed to resist it.

Chief Election Commissioner A P M Shamsul Huda earlier
called as "unjustified" the BNP stand, saying the polls would
be a trial to staging smoothly the upcomimg general election.

Under the Bangladesh constitution local government polls
are non-political or non-party elections but they are treated
as politically crucial as candidates backed by major parties
take part in the polls in their individual capacities.

The interim government had on June 13 relaxed further the
tough emergency rules, allowing street marches and rallies in
particular places, as the independent Election Commission
announced the schedule for local government polls in 13 areas
on August 4.