Bangladesh's months-old political impasse is coming to an end as
all the major political parties have agreed to join the upcoming
general elections slated for Jan.22 next year.
The former main opposition Awami League (AL)-led 14-party
combine, which has formed a grand alliance with former President
Ershad-led Jatiya Party and new floating Liberal Democratic Party
on Dec. 18, announced Sunday they would go to polls.
The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) also agreed on Sunday to
defer by two days the last date for submission of nomination papers
for the national elections to facilitate participation of all
political parties. Now, the parties can submit nomination papers
till Dec. 26, instead of Dec. 24.
The AL-led alliance said Saturday they would not go to polls if
the date for submission of nomination papers was not extended.
As a result, the council of advisors of the caretaker government
decided late Saturday to formally ask the Election Commission to
defer the date of filing nomination by two days. Information
Advisor Mahbubul Alam told newsmen early hours on Sunday the
initiative would bring an end to the months-old political
standoff.
The former ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 4-party
alliance led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia ended its tenure
on Oct. 27.
The constitution of Bangladesh stipulates that a non-party
neutral caretaker government will take over the power and supervise
the country's general elections within three month's time, and then
hand over the power to an elected government.
In line with the constitution, KM Hasan, former Chief Justice,
would be the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government. However,
the Awami League-led 14-party combine led by former Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina demanded dropping Hasan as the designated chief
adviser, saying that he was loyal to BNP alliance.
In the face of stiff agitation of the combine, Hasan disagreed
to become the chief adviser of the caretaker Government, and
Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed named himself as the chief
advisor and took over the power on Oct. 29.
The AL-led 14-party combine staged four countrywide blockades
and one hartal since Oct. 28, demanding a series of reforms on the
election system, including correcting voter list which it said
hastens of millions of fake voters inside, removing Chief Election
Commissioner MA Aziz and two other controversial election
commissioners, who it said were all BNP men.
During the countrywide blockades, there were more than 30 people
killed and thousands were wounded and national economy suffered
great loss.
The caretaker government has met most of Awami League-led
combine's demands, including sending MA Aziz on three month's
leave, requesting the other two election commissioners to take
leaves, and agreeing to correct the voter list.
What the caretaker government has done is aimed to bring the
combine to polls as most of donor countries and agencies said the
general elections should be held with participation of all major
parties, otherwise the election will not be credible and it will
not be acceptable at home and abroad.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2006)
