LGRD Adviser’s remarks spark agony among political parties

Thursday's remark made by LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal that the upcoming parliamentary elections would be held under the state of emergency, sparked agony among the political parties as both Awami League and BNP categorically said they would not participate in the national election under state of emergency.

BNP Secretary General Khandoker Delwar Hossain said BNP would not participate in the general election amid state of emergency while echoing the same argument Tofail Ahmed also made clear his party's stand that Awami League will not take part in the national polls if government does not withdraw the emergency.

Talking to reporters Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak and BNP's expelled Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan also said separately their political parties would not go for national polls amid emergency.

Besides, when political parties are still opposing the upazila elections before general elections, the Election Commission is determined to go for upazila elections. As a result uncertainty over the participation of Awami League and BNP in the next national elections, has been intensified. On the other hand, corruption cases verdict against Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, is yet to be pronounced.

According to sources, Awami League and BNP will also stay away from participating in upazila elections scheduled to be held in the month of October with a view to forcing the government to withdraw state of emergency, holding the national election before general polls and unconditional release of their detained leaders before the polls.

"Government will have to remove people's fear when they go for casting their votes. Simultaneously, we don't want to see people being barred during the national polls. If the general election is held under emergency, people would not be able to free from fear and panic. On the other hand, as per law national election cannot be held under emergency. Besides, if government holds the upazila elections first, the fate of parliamentary election will become uncertain," AL's Abdur Razzak said.

Talking to reporters, Tofael Ahmed said, "I think if any political party does not participate in the general elections, other political parties will also follow suit. That's means no political party will participate in the parliamentary elections under emergency."

"As everything is happening as per caretaker government's will, so it is very difficult to say what will happen in future centering participation of all political parties in the next general polls. We had expected that the verdict of graft cases against two leaders of Awami League and BNP would be passed by the month of July. But the verdict is yet to be passed" talking to The Bangladesh Today a political analyst said.

On the other hand, the government is expecting that the political parties will participate in the local government and general elections amid state of emergency as per EC's road map as it held the city corporation and municipality elections in a free, fair and credible manner with huge voters' turn out.
But political analysts said the state of emergency issue will make the upcoming polls uncertain if the Awami League and BNP don't deviate from their demands including unconditional release of Hasina and Khaleda.