No joining polls if Khaleda in jail

The BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday decided in principle not to take part in the next parliamentary election with Khaleda Zia in jail, said insiders.

It was also decided that from now on, all protest programmes pressing for the release of Khaleda will be held under the banner of the alliance, they added. 

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan was given the assignment to coordinate the activities of the alliance.

The decisions were made at an alliance meeting held at Khaleda's Gulshan office last night with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.

A 20-party leader, wishing not to be named, told The Daily Star that another alliance leader raised the issue of election and seat sharing.

In response, other alliance leaders, including those of the BNP, said now the only focus of the 20-party combine is getting Khaleda Zia out of jail, and the issue of election will be discussed only after her release.

One leader mentioned some news articles published in a number of online portals regarding alleged splits in the alliance and the BNP. In response, Fakhrul urged all to communicate with the alliance leaders if they have any confusion and not to get misled.

Before landing in jail on February 8, Khaleda Zia, chief of the BNP and the 20-party combine, repeatedly asked the alliance leaders to keep the unity at any cost amid apprehension that the government might attempt to split it.

Although the alliance has decided in principal to participate in the city corporation elections it will be finalised after meeting Khaleda, said insiders.

Yesterday's meeting discussed holding of action programmes like rallies in divisional and district headquarters, human chains, leaflet distribution, and issue-based discussions.

The alliance leaders decided to publicise more the German think-tank Bertelsmann Stiftung's report that said Bangladesh is among five countries which no longer meet minimum standards for democracy and are now under autocratic rule.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance had boycotted the 2014 parliamentary polls demanding elections under a non-partisan neutral administration.

The polls saw 153 lawmakers elected uncontested.

The ruling party leaders maintain that the next general election will be held under the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.