Main opposition parties declared boycott, Awami League upbeat
Agencies / IH News Desk
DHAKA / AGARTALA, December 05 2023: The Awami League, which has been in power in Bangladesh for three consecutive terms, is set to return to power if the forthcoming parliamentary elections, slated for January 7, 2024, are not declared void. This is due to the boycott of the elections by the main opposition party, BNP, and its allies, while the third major entity, Jamaat-e-Islami, has been declared unqualified for its alleged stance against the war of liberation in Bangladesh.
Under pressure from the United States government and EU countries, which are pushing for a compromise formula to allow BNP to participate in the polls, the Awami League has finalized its strategy for the elections. The party is ready with the schedule and has rejected any foreign suggestions to install a caretaker neutral government to oversee the elections.
The ruling party, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has lured a number of senior BNP leaders and smaller parties to contest the polls with its symbol or separately. The League has also allowed leaders who were not considered for nomination to run as independents.
Awami League's General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, announced the party is contesting in 298 constituencies. He stated that the party would not mind leaders who became independent candidates, as it would help project a participatory election in the absence of many parties, mainly the BNP.
The deadline for withdrawal of nominations is December 17.
Quader stated that they have time to observe, monitor, adjust, and accommodate candidates who will remain in the fray. He said, "Everything will be finalized by the 17th."
Global diplomacy and election monitoring groups have been voicing their concerns over the political unrest unfolding, with the opposition thronging the streets, often aggressively, and sometimes sparking violence to protest against alleged oppression on their ranks and the total manipulation of the election process.
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