BNP trying to stigmatise local body polls: AL

Awami League's acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday alleged that BNP is trying to jeopardise the environment of parliamentary polls by stigmatising the recently held local body elections as an 'election of entente.'
“BNP has also participated in the city corporation and municipal elections directly. But now its Secretary General Khandaker Delwar is saying that the elections were of entente. Talking in such way they are trying to vitiate the environment of the parliamentary polls,” he said.
He was briefing journalists after visiting European Union parliament member Nirj Deva called on acting Awami League President Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan residence.
Ashraful urged their archrivals to change their political attitude and culture, saying that Awami League does not expect such political mudslinging among the parties.
He reiterated party's demand for lifting the state of emergency before the parliamentary elections to create a level playing field.
Ashraful made a point that parliamentary polls under the state of emergency would not be acceptable to the people of the country as well as to the world community.
Asked why they will not accept parliamentary elections under emergency rules when they already have won an election under the state of emergency, he said parliamentary polls and local elections are not the same thing.
“Local-body elections are nonpolitical while the parliamentary polls are political. People elect government for their country through the parliamentary polls. This type of election cannot be held under emergency rules,” he said, explaining the differences to underpin their demand.
However, the AL leader wouldn't say it clearly if they would participate in the parliamentary polls under the state of emergency.
“We have been demanding the lifting of the state of emergency before the polls. We hope the government will pay heed to our demand,” he said.
Earlier talking to the reporters, EU parliament member Nirj Deva said he discussed with the Awami League leaders the current state of emergency in the country, the recently held city and municipal elections and the long-awaited parliamentary polls.
The Sri Lankan-born EU legislator said the EU parliament is keen to send election observers during Bangladesh's national polls, but the state of emergency here remains as a matter of concern for them.
He said according to EU rules, they don't send observers during election of any country where state of emergency is in force.
Deva said he already had talks with the Chief Election Commissioner, the foreign minister and the army chief when they discussed the state of emergency.
The EU MP appreciated the government and the political parties for successful completion of the city corporation and municipal elections on August 4.
He said the voters' turnout in the centres even was better than the elections in the European countries.
The Election Commission counted 80 percent on average.
Referring to the government's declaration that the parliamentary polls will be held in the third week of December this year, he forecast the national elections '08 to be a milestone in the history of Bangladesh.
Deva emphasised working together for boosting investment in Bangladesh and ensuring human rights at all levels.