Reluctance of smaller parties to run in the upcoming polls has prompted the ruling Awami League to woo a section of leaders of main opposition BNP to contest as independent candidates, a minister said yesterday.
The BNP leaders that the Awami League contacted included some former MPs who had not been not in the good book of Chairperson Khaleda Zia for their “anti-organisational” activities during the rule of the military-backed interim government.
Communications Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Obaidul Quader said the Election Commission might think about shifting the polls schedules in case the BNP leaders intended or the opposition parties desired to contest the elections due on January 5.
Awami League policymakers have suggested Sheikh Hasina to not field any candidate against the “interested” BNP leaders or nominate weak ones, with the aim of getting them elected in the polls, sources have said.
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, former junior minister Capt (retd) Tajul Islam and an adviser of the party had been maintaining the contact with the BNP leaders, who could make the next parliament lively by criticising the government.
Former BNP lawmaker Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman and Rustam Ali Farazi yesterday filed nomination papers as independent candidates for the Kishoreganj 2 and Pirojpur 3 constituencies respectively.
“Efforts are on to make the BNP leaders agree to take part in the polls; a positive outcome may come out any time,” Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told the Dhaka Tribune.
The minister said many BNP leaders had contacted the ruling party expressing their interests in vying the polls that the opposition conglomerate was still determined to boycott.
“We are also holding discussion with them,” Quader said, although he did not naming the names of the BNP leaders.
“Many BNP leaders have sought security during polls so that they can campaign freely. We have told them that the law enforcement agencies will guarantee their safety,” Tajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.
While talking to reporters after filing nomination papers yesterday, Syed Ashraful Islam said the government was constitutionally bound to hold the polls, did not matter the main opposition joined or not.
“Most of the political parties have been taking part in the polls; so it will be acceptable,” he said.
The Awami League strategists think that the participation of HM Ershad’s Jatiya Party, a component of the 14-party conglomerate, Anwar Hossain Monju’s faction of Jatiya Party and some smaller parties will make the polls acceptable internationally. Some leaders involved with the Islam-based parties are also interested in the polls, they said.
Awami League insiders said the party was ready to leave up to 100 seats to the parties that were interested in the polls.
