AL, BNP gear up for polls

With the next national polls a year away, the ruling Awami League is scaling up its organisational activities while the BNP is focused on drumming up support for a non-partisan election-time government.

Though the two major political camps remain rigid on their stances over the contentious issue of polls-time administration, they have started making preparations for the 11th parliamentary election, say leaders of both the parties.

The BNP and many other political parties boycotted the last parliamentary polls on January 5, 2014. As many as 153 lawmakers were elected unopposed, and 127 of them were from the AL.

However, BNP leaders this time say the party will not opt out of the battle of ballots, which they say has to be held under a non-partisan government.

But top AL leaders have all along said the next election would be held under the Sheikh Hasina-led government in line with the constitution.

AL'S GROUNDWORK

The AL is now preparing the party manifesto and also carrying out surveys in all the constituencies to find competent candidates, say party leaders.

AL organising secretaries are now busy resolving internal feuds in the constituencies. Besides, the party high command has asked the leaders to frequently visit their areas and gain confidence of the voters.

Contacted, AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said, “We have been making preparations over the last one year, and our party leaders, ministers and MPs have been asked to visit their constituencies to gain support, respect and confidence of the voters.”

A special team is working to prepare the party manifesto, he pointed out.

“The next election will be difficult and crucial for us.

“The Awami League wants to form government again, and for that to happen, we will have to win 150 seats [in parliament],” added the AL leader.

About internal conflicts, AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told this newspaper that every big party has internal feuds, and it is normal.

“We are working to resolve the disputes,” he added.

BNP'S PREPARATION

Apart from making preparations for the next national election, the party is mobilising its leaders and activists to materialise the demand for a non-partisan election-time government.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will embark on divisional and district tours with an aim to boost morale of party leaders and activists, say party leaders.

Talking to this newspaper, a number of BNP leaders said that right now they don't have any plan to announce tough programmes over the demand for polls-time government or place any formula for an interim administration.

At a party rally on November 12, Khaleda categorically said a fair election is not possible with Hasina in power, and that the election should be held under a non-partisan government.   

She addressed the rally in the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan upon her return from London where she had stayed for around two months.

BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed yesterday said, “We are now moving forward keeping in mind two issues -- preparations for the next polls and the demand for a neutral election-time government.”

The party seeks to put pressure on the government by creating public opinion in favour of a non-partisan election-time administration.

“We will try our best to hold talks with the government and not to go for any tough political programmes,” mentioned the former law minister.

About the election preparations, he said the party is taking new members and keeping a close eye on the voter list update by the Election Commission.

Asked, Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, another member of the party's standing committee, said Khaleda will first tour the divisional headquarters and then go to some important districts.

“We expect that Khaleda Zia will also visit the city corporations that will go to polls in the coming months.”

The former minister further said the BNP's election manifesto will be based on its Vision 2030 the party chief unveiled before the nation in May.

About the selection of candidates, he said, “We are evaluating the prospective candidates but the formal process will begin after the announcement of the election schedule.”