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BNP welcomes October 1 polls, Awami League cries foul

The October 1 polls have been welcomed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party but arch rivals Awami League, which wanted elections to be held earlier, is unhappy with the decision.

The Bangladesh Election Commission Sunday announced October 1 as the date for the next elections, the eighth in Bangladesh's 30 years of existence.

In a nationwide broadcast on television and radio, Chief Election Commissioner M A Sayed said the last day for filing nominations would be August 29 and the last day for withdrawal of nominations would be September 6.

The election will take place under the supervision of the caretaker government headed by former chief justice Latifur Rahman.

The BNP, headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, welcomed the decision as it was in conformity with its demand to hold polls in October.

Zia, however, said, "A congenial atmosphere has to be created before holding the elections, otherwise we will protest."

The Awami League, which had demanded that polls be held in the middle of September, was upset.

Party chief and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League "definitely has reservations about polling in October."

The Awami League also questioned the caretaker government's neutrality, particularly in the wake of reports of a rise in political violence across the country since it came to power in July.

According to reports, more than 25 deaths were reported in southern Bangladesh's Feni district alone. Police say about 73 people have been killed since August 15.

A special drive to arrest terrorists and seize weapons also seems to have fizzled out. Police estimate there are more than 250,000 illegal weapons in the country.

Hasina had handed over power to the caretaker government after she completed her five-year term on July 15. It was decided then that elections would be held within 90 days.

Indo-Asian News Service

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