BNP Not To Boycott Elections

The main Opposition party inBangladesh said today it would not boycott the forthcoming general elections.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has led a boycott of Parliament formore than two years as part of its campaign to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

But BNP leader Badruddoza Chowdhury ruled out the possibility of boycottingthe election at a meeting with Western diplomats.

"The question of not participating in the polls does not arise at all asBNP is committed to democracy," he said.

"But the creation of a congenial atmosphere before the election ismandatory so that people can cast their votes freely," he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed will hand over power to a neutralcaretaker government by July 15 after the 330-member Parliament completes itsfive-year term. The caretaker government will organise elections by October.

Chowdhury added the caretaker government should launch an intensive drive torecover illegal weapons, as well as free members of the BNP who, he alleged,were sent to jail on "false charges" by the government.

Western diplomats, who also held talks with leaders of the ruling AwamiLeague and the election chief, said they were confident the elections would befree and fair.

"We have discussed a number of issues, including local and foreign pollobservers, voter list and arrangements being made for the comingelections," David Preston, the Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka, toldreporters yesterday after the second meeting in a month with poll chief, M AbuSyed.