The BNP formally announced yesterday that It would not attend the current budget session of Jatiya Sangsad as the government is yet to meet its demands and preconditions.

The decision was disclosed by a group of top BNP leaders while briefing representatives of donor countries and agencies in Dhaka at a local hotel .

The team led by Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Prof AQM Badrud-doza Chowdhury said the government has destroyed the atmosphere in parliament and turned the House into a forum of the ruling Awami League.

BNP Chairperson s Advisory

Council member MM Rezaul Karim briefed newsmen after the party leaders' meeting with donors.

He said the donors were told about the latest political situation particularly issues concerning parliament, unilateral appointment of Chief Election Commissioner, one-point opposition movement, abuse of Public Safety Act. deterioration of law and order and Upazila polls.

Asked by the donor representatives about Opposition boycott of parliament sessions, the leaders told them BNP and other opposition parties have not boycotted the parliament but refrained from attending its sessions as the government is not allowing the Opposition to members to play their due role in the House and take part in discussions on various Important national Issues, treaties and agreements.

Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury said the government and the Opposition with the meditation of the Speaker had signed 4-point agreements twice hut not a single point of those agreements was Implemented as yet

The BNP leaders also said that Speaker Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury s partisan role also made the Sangsad Ineffective and turned the House into a ruling party office. Moreover, the ruling parly leaders Including the Prime Minister frequently makes indecent remarks in the House about opposition leaders. MPs and also the Leader of the Opposition.

According to meeting sources, the I3NP leaders said that the CEC was ’unilaterally' appointed by the government without consulting the Opposition. All opposition parties have rejected the appointment and launched movement demanding Immediate resignation of the CEC. they pointed out

The leaders further said at the meeting the CEC must have to be acceptable to all major political parties who represent vast majority of the people. Citing instances, they said whenever a CEC realised that he had lost confidence of a major political party in the country, for whatever reasons, he resigned showing personal reasons or health grounds.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh llasina s letters to Op-posilion Leader Khaleda Zia Io discuss appointment of CEC. the BNP leaders said she welcomed consultation on this issue but wanted II to lie meaningful.

In light of the previous experience, the Opposition Leader felt that a parley with the PM would not be productive and suggested talks with the President. But the suggestion was cancelled on flimsy excuses.

Explaining why BNP and other opposition parties were opposing election of local bodies particularly Upazila polls, the leaders said there Is no time to hold local body elections because the parliamentary election is nearing. Moreover, all polls held under this government were rigged and manipulated by the ruling party.

The BNP leaders categorically told the donor representatives that they woidd not accept holding of local body po^ls be-

fore the parliamentary election, to be held under a caretaker government.

Justifying the one-point oust government movement of the BNP-led opposition alliance, they said the Awami League government has completely failed to ensure good governance and acted against the much desired democratic norms.

This is evident from deteriorating law and order, failure to achieve targets In (he social and economic sectors, continued harassment and repression on opposition leaders and workers, blatant rigging of parliamentary by-polls. farcical one-party municipal and Chittagong City Corporation polls, unlawful use of administrative machinery and law enforcing agencies for partisan political goals, they noted

The BNP leaders Inc hided M Saifur Rahman. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. MK Anwar and MM Rezaul Karlin.

The briefing was attended by ambassadors of USA. Denmark. The Netherlands. Sweden. Norway. Italy, European Union, high commissioners of Canada, Austiulia and acting High Commissioner of UK. Charge d' Affaires of France and Japan, Deputy Head ol Mission of Germany, representatives from World Bank, ADB. IMF and UNDP.