BNP to decide on joining polls after talks with Oikya Front

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will hold talks with its ally Jatiya Oikya Front to reach a decision about contesting in the upcoming parliamentary polls and their next plan of action, according to a number of BNP senior leaders.

The policymakers of the significant opposition are apparently in favour of joining in polls, the leaders say.

 “Whether the BNP will participate in the election or not, will be decided after discussing with Jatiya Oikya Front leaders shortly,” standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Miah told Prothom Alo.

The election commission (EC) has announced the polls schedule on Thursday. The 11th national elections are scheduled for 23 December and the deadline for filing nomination papers is 19 November.

According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), a party has to inform the EC within three days after the announcement of election schedule if they are to contest in the polls as a coalition. Therefore, if Jatiya Oikya Front intends to participate in the polls, its allies have to submit applications to collect nominations by Sunday.

Also, BNP will have to immediately decide who will accept the party's assigned election symbol in the absence of its chairperson and acting chairperson. Notably, BNP’s chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in jail on graft charges while acting chairperson Tarique Rahman has been exiled in London.

In this regard, the BNP will hold separate meetings with its 20-party alliances and standing committee members. Later, the senior BNP leaders may meet with Oikya Front leaders, according to BNP insiders.

Also, BNP and Oikya Front may share their formal reaction about the polls schedule in a press briefing.

Meanwhile, addressing the Jatiya Oikya Front rally held on Friday in Rajshahi, BNP’s general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, the elections can only take place if Khaleda Zia is released, if equal rights are ensured for all political parties and if the election schedule is acceptable.