New Delhi: India called for a free and fair election in Bangladesh on Wednesday, where polls are due to be held on January 22.
“It is our hope that the people of Bangladesh will be able to elect a Government of their own choice in a free, fair, credible and democratic election,” ANI quoted Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson as saying.
Earlier on Wednesday, Bangladesh's major political alliance Awami League Party (ANP), led by Sheikh Hasina, announced that it would not take part in the elections as there was "lack of environment for fair polls".
"Election under President Iajuddin Ahmed cannot be impartial. We cannot give legitimacy to an election with illegal voters roll," ANI quoted Sheikh Hasina, as saying.
She also called upon her alliance partners to resist the elections and asked authorities to announce a new schedule after ensuring a correct voters list.
She also called for level playing filed for all the contesting parties, and resignation of President Iajuddin Ahmed from the position of chief of the caretaker administration.
Following the directions from the central leadership, the alliance candidates who had filed nomination papers earlier to vie for the election, started withdrawing their candidature today, the last date for withdrawal of the nomination papers.
Sheikh Hasina asserted that her party and the alliance was "very eager" to take part in the elections, but the Iajuddin's administration, which she said was being dictated by the earlier
Khaleda Zia government, "compelled us to boycott it".
The government or the immediate past ruling alliance, however, gave no instant reaction on the AL-led alliance's decision of boycott.
Earlier, they said that the government would go according to the country's constitution that stipulates to complete holding of the election in 90 days after the caretaker administration takes over.
Comments
0 comment