The BNP-led four-party alliance announced late last night that it would contest the December 29 national polls if the state of emergency is withdrawn on or before December 11 and the Election Commission’s (EC) power to cancel candidature is scrapped or suspended.
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain came up with the announcement after back-to-back meetings of the party’s standing committee and four-party alliance at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
December 11 is the closing date for submitting nominations in the parliamentary polls.
At the same press briefing, BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said the party will start selling nomination forms at its central office in Naya Paltan today.
Aspiring candidates were asked to collect and submit forms within 10:00pm tomorrow. They would have to buy a candidacy form for Tk 1,000 and pay Tk 20,000 more during its submission.
Interviews of nomination seekers will begin on November 27. The BNP Parliamentary Board headed by Chairperson Khaleda Zia will finalise the nominations.
“We are always an election-oriented party and eager to participate in a free, fair and credible election,” Delwar said.
He added that due to time constraint, they would have to complete the nomination process quickly.
Asked what they would do if their demands were not met, he said they might do something like what Awami League (AL) did before the cancelled January 22 election last year.
AL withdrew its nominations at the last moment and opted out of the election.
He said their alliance would meet again if their demands are not met and decide on the next course of action.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, the second largest component of the alliance, said it would settle on its nominations today.
Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman told The Daily Star that they would draw up a list of prospective candidates in line with recommendations of their grassroots level leaders.
He said their party would soon sit with BNP to discuss seat-sharing.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News
