Bangladesh ruling party’s ally boycotts 5 January elections
5 Dec 2013 4:54 AM IST
Bangladesh’s Awami League-led grand alliance suffered a major setback on Tuesday when one of its key members announced a boycott of the general elections a day after the main opposition BNP decided against taking part, raising questions over the credibility of the 5 January polls.
Political violence during opposition protests for postponing the polls continued unabated, claiming five lives on Tuesday and taking the overall toll to 35.
Jatiya Party, the country’s third largest party and a key ally of the Awami League, said it would not participate in the elections, attributing its sudden decision to lack of ‘proper atmosphere’.
‘It’s final that we will not go to the polls,’ former president and chief of Jatiya Party, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, told reporters.
‘I promised earlier that I will not take part in the elections unless all major political parties contest the polls... I kept my promise,’ he said.
‘I am not going to contest the election. The country is at the brink of disaster. We’re heading towards uncertainty,’ Ershad said.
The former military ruler, said the party candidates who have submitted their nomination papers were asked to withdraw their candidature ahead of last date of withdrawal set by the Election Commission.
Political violence during opposition protests for postponing the polls continued unabated, claiming five lives on Tuesday and taking the overall toll to 35.
Jatiya Party, the country’s third largest party and a key ally of the Awami League, said it would not participate in the elections, attributing its sudden decision to lack of ‘proper atmosphere’.
‘It’s final that we will not go to the polls,’ former president and chief of Jatiya Party, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, told reporters.
‘I promised earlier that I will not take part in the elections unless all major political parties contest the polls... I kept my promise,’ he said.
‘I am not going to contest the election. The country is at the brink of disaster. We’re heading towards uncertainty,’ Ershad said.
The former military ruler, said the party candidates who have submitted their nomination papers were asked to withdraw their candidature ahead of last date of withdrawal set by the Election Commission.
Next Story
