DHAKA, 13 May 2008 — Bangladesh will hold elections in the third week of December this year. Announcing the decision during a televised address to the nation, the chief adviser to the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, said the government would start formal dialogue with political parties on May 22.
A ban on indoor politics will be lifted today, he said. “The dawn of the new year shall greet an elected government,” said Ahmed, the former head of the country’s central bank.
Balloting was scheduled for Jan. 22 last year but was postponed following weeks of political riots that left at least 30 people dead and hundreds injured.
Bangladesh has since then been run by Ahmed’s makeshift government, backed by the country’s influential military.
Ahmed said political parties would be allowed limited political activities such as holding indoor meetings starting today, but authorities would not allow any street rallies. The ban was imposed Jan. 11 last year when Ahmed’s government took power and declared a state of emergency.
Earlier, a Home Ministry statement detailed the relaxation on political activities. The number of participants at the indoor meetings must not exceed 200, and they must not discuss anything beyond politics relating to the elections. Local administration and police would have to be informed well in advance of each meeting, and if the attendance was expected to surpass 200, the authorities should be informed at least 72 hours ahead.
Ahmed did not give any timetable for the removal of emergency rule. “We will consider lifting or easing the emergency rules at an appropriate time,” he said.
The emergency measures have allowed Ahmed’s government to imprison dozens of politicians and businessmen on corruption charges. Among those detained were two former prime ministers, Hasina Wajed and Khaleda Zia — the country’s bitter political rivals.
Ahmed said his administration would begin talking with political leaders on May 22 about the planned election. He did not say whether Hasina and Zia would be allowed to participate. The chief adviser said a consensus “national charter” would be forged through the dialogue with the political parties and representatives of different classes and professions.
He said that the national covenant would be the basis of the framework for a free and fair election and lead the nation to a sound and stable democratic order.
“It is important to reach a consensus before the elections to make the post-election parliament effective,” he said, adding that it needs guarantee that no one will reject the election results and boycott Parliament. This will be the focus of the dialogue with political parties, he noted.
