BNP to register with EC, join national polls
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
BNP said Tuesday it will register and join the national elections in compliance with the amended electoral laws and the registration rules, revising its previous demand for holding the parliamentary polls under unamended laws, reports bdnews24.com.
BNP senior vice president MK Anwar announced the change of heart to reporters after a four-member BNP delegation's meeting with the Election Commission.
"The Election Commission will change a number of provisions in the amended Representation of the People Order. We have presented our standpoint to the commission on the matter," he said.
"BNP will participate in the elections after being registered as a political party," he added.
BNP said it still opposed holding the upazila polls just five days after the national elections and requested the polls' deferment by one month.
It also demanded immediate lifting of the state of emergency.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda expressed the hope that BNP would register with the commission by Oct 15, the previously announced deadline for registration.
"We are happy that BNP has shown interest in getting registered. We hope other parties will also accomplish the task within this time," Huda said.
BNP senior vice president MK Anwar announced the change of heart to reporters after a four-member BNP delegation's meeting with the Election Commission.
"The Election Commission will change a number of provisions in the amended Representation of the People Order. We have presented our standpoint to the commission on the matter," he said.
"BNP will participate in the elections after being registered as a political party," he added.
BNP said it still opposed holding the upazila polls just five days after the national elections and requested the polls' deferment by one month.
It also demanded immediate lifting of the state of emergency.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda expressed the hope that BNP would register with the commission by Oct 15, the previously announced deadline for registration.
"We are happy that BNP has shown interest in getting registered. We hope other parties will also accomplish the task within this time," Huda said.