DHAKA, Dec 24: Ending a pervasive uncertainty about an all-party general election in Bangladesh, the Awami League and its allies, who were threatening to boycott polls until Saturday, announced on Sunday that they would take part in the elections scheduled for Jan 22.
The AL’s announcement came on Sunday afternoon after the Election Commission changed the election schedule for the fourth time, deferring the last date for filing nomination papers from Dec 24 to 26.
“Since the commission has met our demands and the caretaker government has assured us of a level playing field for contesting the polls, we have decided to take part in the elections,” Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the Awami League, told a crowded press conference in Dhaka.
The AL leaders remained busy the whole day, negotiating with their allies – the centrist, left- and right-wing parties and groups – over sharing and adjusting seats. Awami League’s arch rival the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies in the four-party combine started filing nomination papers on Saturday.
However, reaffirming that the rescheduled general election of Jan 22 will be free, fair, transparent and acceptable, acting CEC Justice Mahfuzur Rahman on Sunday kicked off a no-holiday preparation and expressed the hope that all parties would now take part in the polls.
“We deferred the nomination papers-filing date by two days as we could understand that all parties were willing to take part in the election if we deferred it,” he told a press briefing at the EC, hours after an official announcement about adjustments in the election schedule.
Mr Rahman said the EC cancelled all holidays, including Eidul Azha vacation, so that they could complete all formalities in the election process.
Replying to another question whether the EC was apprehending any fresh demand from the Awami League-led alliance, he said: “Let’s see.” He hastened to add: “No comment.”
He went on to say that the updating voter list would continue until the day before the nation goes to the polls.
About another pending issue of recasting the Election Commission, the Acting Chief Election Commissioner said the leave of Election Commissioner S.M. Zakaria would be effective from Dec 21 to Jan 31.
