The New Nation - Internet Edition

Myanmar retreats from exploration site: Three-pronged diplomacy involving Myanmar, China and Korea defuses tension

Bangladesh Navy Ships Abu Bakar and Jamuna are seen
on patrol in the vicinity of Korean Rig 'Trans Ocean Legend'
that came to explore Oil and Gas for Myanmar in disputed
area of Bay of Bengal. Photo:ISPR

BDR personnel remain alert along border areas in
Naikhongchhari upazila under Bandarban district on Sunday.
FocusBangla

Staff Reporter

Myanmar yesterday wrapped up its exploration mission from the Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal in the face of strong protest by Bangladesh Navy, an ISPR release said.

However, official media in Myanmar presented this as a technical move and said the South Korean company undertaking the exploration work had simply moved to another block after a successful seismic survey and the Daewoo will continue exploration.

"By this time they (Myanmar) are leaving our territory, and (we) hope they won't resume exploration unless both sides finalise the demarcation (of boundary claims) in the Bay of Bengal," Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters yesterday.

The ISPR release said the South Korean rig 'Trans Ocean Legend" backed by Myanmar warships was pulled back from the site.

On November 1, Bangla-deshi naval ship "Nirvoy" detected four drilling vessels and a tug with the support of Myanmar warship doing exploration with a huge rig within the Bangladesh deep-sea waters.

The release said "in view of the situation, the Bangladesh Navy reinforced its strength in the deep sea" alongside the diplomatic offensive.

Bangladesh dispatched a high-power delegation led by Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain to Yangon to discuss the matter with the Myanmar authorities on diplomatic plane. The delegation returned on Saturday without a fruitful outcome.

According to the ISPR, the crew of the civilian foreign company ship were informed about Bangladesh's clear position and her claim on the Bay waters. As a result, the foreign company ship engaged in installing the rig and crew realised the danger of the consequences.

In the wake of diplomatic efforts and strong presence of Bangladesh naval force in the deep sea, the foreign company with the rig and Myanmar warships were withdrawn.

The ISPR release said, "The dispute over the maritime zone between Bangladesh and Myanmar is a long-running one. Despite such situation having surfaced in the past, presently it took a complicated shape for the prospects for finding gas in the disputed waters."

But Myanmar's official media said Myanmar had rejected "the mistakenly made demand of Bangladesh".

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported on Sunday that exploration work had moved from Block AD-7 in the Bay of Bengal to another offshore block, A-3.

The newspaper said South Korea's Daewoo International Corp had drilled an exploration well down to the targeted depth in Block AD-between October 17 and November 5 and the necessary survey was completed.

"Further tasks would be carried out according to the work programme," it said.

Informed sources said despite withdrawal of the exploration equipment from the disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal both Bangladesh and Myanmar still continued to reinforce troops along common borders and put them on high alert since early Saturday.

BDR sources said it is still increasing the number of troops in border areas in Naikhongchhari upazila and more troops has been called from the capital as Myanmar continues to do the same.

The border remained tense but there had been no untoward incident, security officials said on Sunday.

"We are on high alert to face any circumstances," BDR Major Sajjadul Kabir told Reuters in the Cox's Bazar frontier district.

Bangladesh and Myanmar share a 320 km (200 mile) border, partly demarcated by the Naf river.

The two neighbouring nations are engaged in long-standing talks to agree on their maritime border, with the next session scheduled for November 16 and 17 in Dhaka.

UNB adds: An imminent confrontation between Bangladesh and Myanmar over controversial oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal could be averted following a three-pronged diplomatic manoeuvring approaching China and South Korea.

Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, who returned home after a troubleshooting mission to Yangon, told a crowded media conference on Sunday evening that a buildup of tensions over Myanmar's controversial oil and gas exploration in the contested waters in the Bay of Bengal was apparently defused Sunday.

He said that, before his departure for Myanmar, he had meetings with the Ambassadors of China and South Korea in Dhaka and informed them of Bangladesh's position on the disputed waters as well as stance on a peaceful solution "instead of any confrontation or war".

He informed the Chinese envoy that Bangladesh wants peaceful solution while requested the Korean envoy to remove Daewoo company's exploration vessel. The Korean Ambassador had told him that Daewoo started dismantling their equipment from the disputed waters.

Touhid, however, told a correspondent that Bangladesh did not seek engagement or mediation into the matter of bilateral dispute.

On his Myanmar mission Touhid said he made three proposals during his meeting with Myanmar Deputy Ministers Maung Moyint and Kyaw Thu for resolving the dispute peacefully.

The proposals include removal of the drilling rig as the Korean company's exploration vessels crossed the 1974 maritime boundary claimed by Bangladesh and withdrawal of naval ships by the two countries from the site.

Touhid admitted that the Myanmar side did not agree to remove the rig during the talks as Maung Moyit said he needed discussion with his higher authority.

He said the Myanmar side also claimed that they had conducted the exploration on the eastern side of so-called 'friendship line' which does not exist.

Touhid said the Korean vessels removed the oil- exploration rig from the disputed waters by 12 noon today, although UNB reports from the frontier districts said tensions were brewing along the land border following troop buildups on both sides.

When his attention was drawn to Myanmar authorities' claim that they removed the rig after completion of the exploration and they entered the area in September, Touhid said he is not a technical expert, but "it sounds unusual".

He observed that it would have required at least three months for completing the exploration deep in the sea.

He said support ships from Myanmar might have been there in September but the rig was not installed in September as claimed by Myanmar.

The Foreign Ministry took the steps as soon as Bangladesh Navy informed them of the matter, said the FS.

He agreed with a correspondent that the rig may be shifted into another gas-exploration block.

Replying to a question on tense situation along the land border between the two countries, he hoped that it would gradually die down.

The Foreign Secretary said despite the incident in the Bay of Bengal, the scheduled meeting on maritime boundary on November 16-17 would be held in Dhaka. Myanmar deputy minister Maung Moyit will lead his country's delegation.

Apart from maritime boundary, the talks will also cover the construction of the connecting road between Bangladesh and Myanmar for trans-border communications.

JS, Upazila polls: Nomination filing dates extended

Staff Reporter

Pressed by BNP-Jamaat alliance, Election Commission (EC) has extended by a week the deadline for filing nomination papers to contest December 18 general elections and December 28 upazila polls.

Moving back the original November 13 deadline, the EC now have fixed November 20 for filing the nomination papers for both parliamentary and Upazila elections.

The EC at a meeting, chaired by chief election commissioner ATM Shamul Huda, yesterday also decided to change the dates for scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers.

EC Secretary M Humayun Kabir disclosed the Commissions decision at a crowded press conference yesterday.

"The Commission has done it to allow more candidates to submit their nomination papers, at the behest of returning officers and potential candidates," he said.

According to the rearranged schedule, scrutiny of papers for the parliamentary polls would take place on November 23-24, and the last day for withdrawal of candidacy would be November 29.

Scrutiny of papers for upazila polls would take place November 25-27, with the last date for pulling out being December 3, Humayun Kabir said.

However, the EC officials stuck to its decision of holding the much-awaited general election on December 18, which is also pledged by Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed.

He said the dates for parliamentary and upazila elections, on December 18 and 28 respectively, would remain unchanged. "Election dates will not be pushed back," he stressed.

9 Muslim countries' envoys call on Hasina

Ambassadors of eight Muslim countries called on
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan
residence in the city yesterday. NN photo

UNB, Dhaka

Ambassadors of nine Muslim countries Sunday called on Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and discussed matters concerning parliament elections scheduled on December 18. The Ambassadors of Kuwait, Egypt , United Arab Emirates , Libya , Palestine , Morocco , Oman, Qatar and Iraq during the meeting with Hasina at her Sudhasadan residence hoped that all political parties would participate in the elections, which should be free and fair.

"The envoy of the Muslim countries have told our leader that they strongly expect the parliamentary polls in Bangladesh will be held on December 18 as declared by the Election Commission," AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after an hour-long meeting started at 11:40am.

Ashraful said the Muslim diplomats wanted to know about preparations of Awami League to contest the polls.

"Our leader told them that Awami League is ready to contest the long-awaited parliament elections," he said.

The envoys were apprised of Awami League's demand for lifting the state of emergency fully before the polls.

Ashraful said Sheikh Hasina explained the importance of lifting of the emergency rules to create congenial atmosphere before and during the polls.

He said the emergency rules will work as the biggest obstacle to arrange the general elections in a free and fair manner. "AL wants the emergency law must go immediately", he said.

Asked about BNP's indecision to contest the elections, Ashraful said they hoped the caretaker government will be able to solve their problems and ensure participation of all parties in the race.

Ashraful said the government must create such an environment where all parties will participate as there is no alternative to the December 18.

The envoys also enquired about Sheikh Hasina's health and shared views on labour migration from Bangladesh to Middle East and other Muslim countries, he said.

Talking to the reporters the Palestine's envoy said they hoped that all political parties will contest the elections.

Infighting in Ctg AL: Mohiuddin set to contest in 3 seats

ABM Mohiuddin

Chittagong Correspondent

As many as 95 people have sought the Awami League ticket to contest the December 18 parliamentary elections from 16 constituencies in Chittagong.

Mayor of the port city ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries Safizzaman Chowdhury Zabed are the two big shots among the aspirants who will be in the race for coveted parliamentary seat for the first time.

Mayor Mohiuddin has sought party nomination for three seats, Chittagong-8, 9 and 10 while Chamber President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Zabed intends to fight from Chittagong-9 and 12

Spouse of the mayor Hasina Mohiuddin and Awami League leaders Kazi Enamul Haque Danu and Khairuzzaman Koxi have submitted nomination papers on behalf of behalf Mohiuddin.

Engineer Mosharaf Hossain, Mohammad Giasuddin, Mohammad Shamsul Haque, and Advocate Kamal Uddin sought party nomination for Chittagong-1 (Mirsharai), former MP Rafiqul Anwar, former MP Nurul Alam Chowdhury, ATM Peyarul Islam and Dr. Rezaul Karim for Chittagong-2

(Fatickchhari), ATM Abul Kashem, Nurul Absar Mia, Mostafa Kamal Chowdhury and Abul Kalam Azad Chowdhury for Chittgaong-3 (Sitakunda) and Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul, Engineer Chowdhury Mohammad Mohsin and Tohidul Alam for Chittagong-4 (Hathazari).

Former MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Mohammad Abdus Salam and Dr. Mohammad Selim sought nomination for Chittagong-5 (Rowzan) while Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Osman Gani Chowdhury and Dr. Md. Selim for Chittagong-6 (Rangunia).

General Secretary of Chittagong South unit AL Alhaj Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Nurul Islam B.Sc., Abdus Salam, Nurul Alam and SM Abul Kalam Azad are vying for party ticket for Chittagong-7 (Boalkhali, Chandgaon).

Besides mayor Mohiuddin, former minister MA Mannan, AJM Nasiruddin, Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul, Kazi Enamul Haque Danu, Nurul Islam B.Sc., Hasina Mohiuddin, MA Rashid and MEB group Managing Director (MD) Shamshul Islam sought nomination for Chittagong-8.

Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor Mohiuddin, Dr. Afsarul Amin Chowdhury and Khorshed Alam Sujon sought nomination for Chittagong-9. Mayor Mohiuddin and Dr. Afsarul Amin Chowdhury are also aspirants for Chittagong-10.

Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Major General (Retd) Alauddin Ahmed, Mojaharul Islam, M Shamshul Haque and MA Jafar have filed nomination for Chittagong-11 (Patiya) while Saifuzzam Chowdhury Zabed, Nurul Kaiyum Khan and M Shamshul Haq for Chittagong-12 (Anwara).

Engineer Afsar Uddin Ahmed and Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury wanted nomination for Chittagong-13 and 14 while Sultanul Kabir and Barrister Hasan Azim Dolan sought party nod for Chittagong-15

Dr. Rajib Humayun, Professor Majid and Jamal Uddin Chowdhury are rivals for Chittagong-16.

4 extremists lynched, one killed in shootout

Staff Reporter

At least five alleged extremists were killed in mob lynching and police firing at Sathia and shootout between accomplices of terrorists and police at Bagmara upazilas yesterday.

In Hatbaria village at Sathia angry mob lynched four suspected robbers, as they tried to commit robbery at a house, said Moniruzzaman, Officer in Charge of Santhia police station. The dead were the active cadres of extremists group now defunct militant outfit Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Janojuddho), he added.

Around ten to twelve armed members of the Janojuddho went to bank official Jainal's residence in Hatbaria at around three in the morning. The desperate hue and cry of the members of the house roused the villagers. They chased the fleeing suspects and caught five of them. Four were killed on the spot from the beating of the angry villagers. The deceased were identified as Ebad Ali, 34, Robiul, 30, and Lal Hossain, 30, and Shamim Hossain, 26.

Police arrested Hablu, 29, and retrieved two firearms and two rounds of ammunition from the spot. The bodies of the four have been sent to the Pabna Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy and an attempted robbery case has been filed with Santhia police station.

In another incident, an outlaw died in a shootout between his accomplices and police at Bajekola village in Bagmara upazila.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Hannan, a cadre of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Lal-Pataka). He was wanted in six murder cases, police said.

Acting on a tip off, police conducted operation in a mango orchard of the village at about 3:30am when some extremists of the outlawed party were holding a clandestine meeting.

Sensing the presence of the police the extremists opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to fire back. Hannan was caught in the line of gunfire, while trying to flee and died on the spot.

Police recovered a gun, five rounds of bullet and three sharp weapons from the scene.

Barisal hustings: Fugitive convicts, ex-bureaucrat among aspirants

Barisal Correspondent

Grassroots level Awami League leaders of different upazilas in Barisal have finalised the selection of panel of candidates for contesting the upcoming parliamentary election from six constituencies of the district.

Interestingly, former chief whip Abul Hasanat Abdullah, who has fled the country just before 1/11 and sentenced to 22 years imprisonment in corruption and tax evasion cases, has been nominated as the prime candidate to fight the election from three constituencies namely Barisal 1, 2 and 3.

Hasanat failed to enlist his name in the voter list as he was away from the country during the registration of voters' names.

Meanwhile, an advertisement was published in a local newspaper on Sunday last stating that the SSC certificate of Hasanat, who is also facing two other charges of possessing illegal arms and forgery, was burnt when his house was set on fire during the liberation war of 1971.

Sources said Hasanat has been selected as a lone AL candidate for his home constituency Barisal -one comprising Agoiljhara and Gournadi upazilas.

Name of Hasanat also topped the list of Barisal-2 (Uzirpur-Banaripara upazilas) constituency along with Syed Mainul Huq, Habibur Rahman Khan, Shahe Alam, Alhaj Golam Faruk and Manirul Islam Moni, former law maker.

Abul Hasanat Abdullah also secured first position in the list of AL nomination aspirants for Barisal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi upazilas) followed by Advocate Afzalul Karim, district AL joint secretary, Md. Sirajuddin Ahmed, former additional secretary and member of public service commission and board of revenue, Advocate Abdul Bari and Kazi Mizanur Rahman Mintu.

In Barisal-4(Hizla-Mehendiganj upazilas) names of Major Nasir (rtd.), Farida Mohiuddin, widow of former lawmaker and district AL president late Mohiuddin Ahmed, Advocate Afzalul Karim, district AL joint secretary, Maidul Huq, former upazila chairman and Lion Mojibor Rahman were proposed

For Barisal-5, consisting of the divisional city and Sadar upazila, names of Mahbubuddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, popularly known as SP Mahbub, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Jubo League chairman, absconding since one eleven, Advocate Golam Abbas Chowdhury Dulal, A R Khan and Manirul Hassan Khan, district AL joint secretary have been submitted to the highest decision making body of Awami league for final slection.

Former AL lawmaker Masud Reza, businessman Samsul Alam Chunnu, Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed Jhantu, Parvin Talukdar, Advocate Ismail Hossain Howladar and Maj.Gn.Abdul Hafiz Mallik (rtd.), Khan Altaf Hossain Vulu, Mizanur Rahman, Shahidul Alam Akon, have been selected by the grassroots level AL leaders for Barisal-6 constituency.

Factional clashes, trading of barbs and chasing and counter chasing took place among the supporters of nomination aspirants at Babuganj, Muladi, Hizla and Sadar upazilas.

Call to include land reform in poll manifesto

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday said the political leaders should realise that socio-economic development of the country is not possible excluding the people of rural area.

The seminar on "Rural Socio-economic reform" was held at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city organised by Research Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB).

Khushi Kabir, Chairperson of ALRD, moderated the seminar, while former chief adviser Justice Habibur Rahman, attended as chief guest.

Chairman of RIB Shamsul Bari, delivered the inaugural speech and member of management committee Anisur Rahman delivered the welcome speech.

Prominent economists Prof Rehman Sobhan and Prof Abul Barakat, former minister and AL leader Abdur Razzaque, former minister and BNP leader Md Shamsul Islam, Dr Badiul Alam of SUJON, Chairman of Bangladesh Mahila Parisad Ayesha Khanam, executive director of ALRD Shamsul Huda, AL leader Dr Abdur Razzaque, executive director of RIB Prof Meghna Guhathakurta, Haidar Akbar Khan Rono, among others, took part in the discussion.

Habibur Rahman said the ownership of rural area's land has to ensure by electing honest and qualified persons in acceptable and creditable election according to the choice of rural people.

He remarked this matter is very important for our civil society.

Rehman Sobhan called upon the political leaders to include the declaration for land and agriculture reform in their election manifestos to protect the interest of marginal and poor people of the country.

The speakers said the next government has to take the effective Programme by land and agriculture reform to ensure food security and to create opportunity for the country.

Professor of Dhaka University MM Akash, presented the Keynote Paper.

He mentioned there are 72 percent people of the rural area are poor and landless. Bangladesh won't be enlightened excluding this part of people, he added.

He also mentioned the government is responsible to maintain the economic empowerment of them as the right of constitution.

He suggested the Khash land; water body and the land of Char among the rural people should be distributed.

BB ready to help EC net loan defaulters

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Bank is ready to provide credit information of the prospective candidates in the parliamentary and upazila elections slated for next month.

Loan defaulters are prohibited by law to take part in the elections.

"Our responsibility is to provide credit information to the Election Commission. The CIB (Credit Information Bureau of Bangladesh Bank) has already prepared the information," Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters on Sunday.

He was talking to the reporters following a meeting with an IMF mission, headed by executive director for the Asia Pacific region Thomas Rambough, reviewing the economic developments in view of the current global financial crisis.

The Governor said the central bank earlier directed the commercial banks to mobilize credit information from across the country and they have already sent the information to the CIB. He informed that the CIB has already prepared the list of loan defaulters.

Dr Salehuddin said this is for the first time that the commercial banks across the country participated in preparing the list of defaulters. On previous occasions, the CIB alone prepared the list as part of its routine work.

"It's not the responsibility of Bangladesh Bank to prevent candidates from election. The Election Commission will take necessary steps on the basis of the credit information," he said, replying to a question.

Bangladesh Bank executive director Khandakar Muzharul Haque said the CIB is prepared and waiting for the final list of nominations from the Election Commission. "We'll cross check the CIB report against the candidates and will inform the EC about the defaulter ones only," he added.

BNP rejects extended deadline

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday has rejected the extended deadline for submission of nomination papers by the Election Commission (EC).

He termed the extended date for the submission of nomination papers by the EC as a juggling with figures. "You have announced the election schedule on your choice.

That we do not accept," he said while speaking at a function organized by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in observance of National Solidarity and Revolution Day at the Diploma Engineers Institute.

Chaired by Nazrul Islam Khan, Joint Secretary General of BNP it was also addressed among others by Abdullah Al Noman, Selima Rahman, Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Zafrul Hasan.

The Secretary General of BNP urged the EC to avoid juggling with figures regarding the extension of submitting nomination papers.

"The election schedule has to be revised so that our candidates can take part in the battle. Our intending candidates must be allowed to take part in the election," he mentioned.

He demanded of the EC to allow the loan defaulting candidates to repay the loans and pay outstanding bills till the day before filing of nomination papers.

On the issue of Representation of People Order (RPO), Delwar said that the election has to be conducted under the previous law.

He urged the government to accept the 7-point demand, including complete withdrawal of the state of emergency, release of the detained party leaders. "We will go to polls and accept the mandate people give to any party if it is held after accepting out demand," he added while replying on the issue of joining in the polls.

UK prefers JS polls without emergency: Barton

Staff Reporter

The Additional Director of British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Philip Barton yesterday said Britain likes to see a free, fair and inclusive parliamentary election schedule on December 18 without state of emergency.

" We hope the government will lift the emergency rules and a free, fair and transparent election will be held with the participation of all political parties," he told journalists after a meeting with BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain at his NAM flat.

Stephen Evans, British High Commissioner, was present in the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour from 11:30am.

When asked on about the BNP's 7-point demand, Barton hoped that the government would consider their logical demands.

"The government should realise our seven-point demand for holding the election in a free and fair manner" Khandker Delwar told journalists.

He urged the government to consider their 7-point demand immediately with a view to making way for BNP led four-party alliance to take part in the elections by lifting the state of emergency and releasing the detained party leaders and activists.

EC warns BNP of violating electoral code of conduct

Staff Reporter

The Election Commission (EC) has warned BNP over violations of the election code of conduct.

A letter has been sent to the BNP Secretary General yesterday warning the party over the violations.

"We sent warning letter to the concerned person of the party today (Sunday) warning over the violations," said Mihir Sarwar Morshed, Deputy Secretary of the commission.

In the letter the EC said the leaders and activists of BNP have violated the code of conduct by carrying out election publicity at the party's rally in Chittagong on Friday.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia addressed crowds of party leaders and supporters carrying banners and festoons, welcoming the party chairperson with the party's election symbol "sheaf of paddy" and pasting posters of potential candidates.

The EC deputy secretary said the code of conduct barred parties and individuals from election campaigning more than three weeks ahead of the election.

"The EC has requested the BNP to refrain from such activities for the sake of creating congenial atmosphere for elections," Morshed added.

Awami league was similarly warned after party chief Sheikh Hasina was welcomed by similar rallies of supporters on her return to Bangladesh on Nov 6.

Three bodies recovered

Staff Reporter

Police recovered three bodies, including that of a government official, from different areas of the city yesterday.

The victims, Mehdi Hassan Tutul, a government official, Shadat Hossain and Hossain Ali were recovered from Motijheel, Tejgaon Industrial Area and Tejgaon Residential Area.

Tutul son of Mohor Ali Bhuiyan and working as an assistant in Gopalganj District Collector's Office was found dead in the Lane by the Observer Bhaban at about 1:45pm, said police. He fell from the 3th floor of the building.

Police suspect that the assailants threw the victim from the top of the building.

Meanwhile, the body of Shadat Hossain, an employee of a tools factory, was recovered from the factory premises at Tejgaon.

Medical source said he died as a machine struck him.

Another body of Hossain Ali, hacked to death by unidentified assailants, was recovered from beside the Defence Directorate at Tejgaon yesterday.

The motives behind these killings could not be ascertained immediately.

All the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Separate unnatural death cases were filed with the respective police stations.

BNP's main demands remain unresolved

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Despite the extension of time limit for submission of nominations by one week, BNP leaders do not find any compassion shown towards their three major demands for them to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

Out of the seven-point demand of the BNP-led four-party alliance, the three major ones are withdrawal of state of emergency, amendment of some provisions of the RPO and deferment of Upazila polls.

However, highly placed source said bargaining between the government and the BNP is still continuing to pave the way for ensuring participation of the alliance in the December 18 polls.

Regarding withdrawal of emergency, the government does not want to withdraw it before completion of submitting of nomination papers to bar the convicted political leaders from taking part in the elections, but BNP is strongly pursuing for the withdrawal of emergency before submission of nomination papers so that their stalwarts, particularly those facing conviction, could take part in the polls, according to sources.

The BNP leaders consider withdrawal of emergency most important for participation in the parliamentary polls of 26 former BNP ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers and MPs and around 20 party leaders against whom warrant of arrest have been issued and cases filed.

If the emergency is not withdrawn, many stalwarts of the BNP, like its standing committee member Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, senior leaders- Morshed Khan, Mirza Abbas and Aman Ullah Aman would not be able to contest the polls due to their conviction under the emergency rules, A BNP Standing Committee member told The New Nation.

Meanwhile, a senior lawyer said with withdrawal of the emergency, the convicted persons under it would be able to take part in the general elections by submitting appeal to the higher court.

According to insiders there is little likelihood of BNP joining the election with these issues unresolved.