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AL, BNP differ on election atmosphere

Staff Correspondent
The two major political parties — Awami League (AL) and BNP ---yesterday expressed rather opposing feelings about the developing political scenario in the country vis-A-vis the December 18 parliamentary election.
But both parties however said it is imperative to lift the state of emergency to make the upcoming election credible.
After separate meetings with visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a capital hotel, AL said it will contest in the election and hopes that a peaceful appropriate environment will be created through withdrawal of the state of emergency.
BNP on the other hand said as a pro-election party it wants to contest in the poll, but an atmosphere conducive to holding a credible election has not yet been created as the military backed caretaker government has not yet met any of its seven demands.
A more optimistic AL Acting
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General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after the meeting yesterday, "Of course a peaceful environment will be created through withdrawal of the state of emergency, as one adviser has already said the restrictions on fundamental rights will be withdrawn and the process will start from tomorrow."
"The environment will be created Inshallah, and we will take part in the poll. We urge all the people to take ^drt in the-e^chon 'pfotdssfrom today, " he added.
While a sceptical BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said. "Although the government had said it had accepted six of our seven demands, it has yet to implement any of those, therefore, we think the government has not taken any positive step yet towards holding a free, fair and credible election."
"We also told him [the UN secretary general] that we want to contest in the December 18 election, but the government has to remove all kinds of obstacles on the way to our participation," Delwar said.
While Ashraf said, "We have told them [the UN] that the election must be held on the announced date since there is no alternative to it. It is their belief that the election will be held on December 18, which will be fair and participated by all. "
About lifting of the emergency, Delwar said, "We have told him that a total lifting of he emergency is an imperative for holding a free, fair and credible election, and he urged us to settle the issue through discussions with the government."
While Ashraf said, "The UN has also agreed with us that the people won t have fundamental rights under the state of emergency, so that will be a problem for an acceptable poll. If any political party does not want to take part in the election with the excuse of the emergency, then the party might be able to make the election process look questionable."