BNP won't go to polls under emergency, UN team told
Sunday, 19 October 2008
BNP has informed a UN delegation that it will not participate in the December 18 national polls under the state of emergency, reports bdnews24.com.
"Holding a free and fair election is not possible amid the state of emergency. If the government wants to stage elections under emergency, BNP won't take part in the polls," secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain told reporters after a meeting with the delegation Saturday.
"We have stated our position to the UN delegation as they wanted to know," he said.
A visiting UN team on political affairs for South Asia, Asia and the Pacific region, headed by Hitoki Den, is meeting with stakeholders ahead of the December elections and in preparation for UN chief Ban Ki Moon's tour at the start of November.
The delegation met BNP leaders at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters.
UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, Renata Dessalien told reporters after the meeting that they were still optimistic a free and fair election would be held in time with the participation of all parties, to restore a democratic government.
She expressed the hope that winning and defeated parties would work together for the sake of the country.
"Holding a free and fair election is not possible amid the state of emergency. If the government wants to stage elections under emergency, BNP won't take part in the polls," secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain told reporters after a meeting with the delegation Saturday.
"We have stated our position to the UN delegation as they wanted to know," he said.
A visiting UN team on political affairs for South Asia, Asia and the Pacific region, headed by Hitoki Den, is meeting with stakeholders ahead of the December elections and in preparation for UN chief Ban Ki Moon's tour at the start of November.
The delegation met BNP leaders at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters.
UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, Renata Dessalien told reporters after the meeting that they were still optimistic a free and fair election would be held in time with the participation of all parties, to restore a democratic government.
She expressed the hope that winning and defeated parties would work together for the sake of the country.