DHAKA, Dec 15: A major political alliance led by the Awami League said on Friday for the first time that it wanted to take part in next month's elections, the clearest sign yet a door is opening to resolve an impasse that has led to about 30 deaths in violent demonstrations.
The 14-party alliance led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed had threatened to boycott the elections, currently slated for Jan 23, unless its demands for electoral reforms are met. The alliance claims the outgoing government rigged voting lists and stacked an election commission in its favour.
''We want to take part in the elections,'' alliance spokesman Abdul Jalil said on Friday. ''But we need a deferment of the voting date to prepare ourselves for the elections.''
On Dec 8, the Election Commission started correcting the electoral roll. The head of the commission earlier took a leave of absence, partly meeting the alliance's demand that the commission step down.
Mr Jalil did not say how long the elections should be delayed, but local media reports said the alliance wants at least a month.
On Friday, Shafiqul Huq Chowdhury, an adviser to the interim government, said it is working to create an environment that will allow all political parties to take part in the elections. —AP
