The New Nation - Internet Edition

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If the emergency is not withdrawn, many stalwarts of the BNP, like its standing committee member Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, senior leaders- Morshed Khan, Mirza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.