The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

In a dramatic shift from its previous position on participation in parliamentary elections under previous laws, the senior Vice- President of BNP MK Anwar yesterday said that his party would register and join the forthcoming general elections in line with the new electoral laws and political parties registration rules.

He told the media after a meeting of four-member delegation of BNP with the Election Commission (EC).

"BNP will take part in the national polls after being registered as a political party," he said. Nazrul Islam Khan, joint Secretary General, Abdul Mannan, former state minister, Rizvi Ahmed, office secretary of BNP and Chief Election Commission Dr ATM Shamsul Huda and Election Commissioners Brig Gen (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain and M Sohul Hussain were present at the meeting on their respective sides.

"We have presented our point of view to the commission and the EC will change a number of provisions in the amended Representation of the People Order (RPO)- 2008. He said that holding upazial polls after one month of parliamentary election and immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency were the key demands of the party to the government and the EC.

Expressing his happiness over the BNP's stand regarding party registration under the EC's existing laws, ATM Shamsul Huda hoped that BNP would register with the EC by October 15.

" We (EC) are happy that the BNP has shown interest in getting registered," he said and hoped that the other parties will also accomplish the task by this time.

On the issue of shifting the date of upazila polls by some political parties, the CEC said the date for upazial polls would not be deferred.

He said that the EC has made preparations to hold upazila polls on the fixed dates.

He also said changes would be made to some sections of the recently amended RPO and the ninth parliament election would be held under new electoral laws and re- demarcated constituencies.