Fight municipal polls, don't be unreasonable: AL to BNP

Urging the BNP to contest the December 30 municipal elections, Awami League leaders said yesterday (Friday) that the BNP should not set any unreasonable condition.   The AL leaders were addressing a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Swadhinata Parishad in the city’s Shilpakala Academy auditorium. Speaking on the occasion, food minister and AL Dhaka city unit joint general secretary, Quamrul Islam, hoped that that BNP would participate in the elections unconditionally.
“I request the BNP not to boycott the polls by putting forward any reasonable condition,” he said. Condemning the attack on a Shia mosque in Bogra on Thursday, the minister said recent attacks on foreigners, tazia processions and the attack on a policeman in the capital are linked. A quarter with vested interest has been  conspiring to hinder the nation's progress. But their plot would come a cropper as the government is vigilant and is committed to foiling terrorist attacks, he added. Addressing the same programme, AL publicity and publication affairs secretary, Dr Hasan Mahmud, said good sense has finally prevailed over the BNP, as it is set to contest the municipal elections under the party banner. He added: “We request the BNP not to boycott the polls on any pretext. We hope the BNP will eschew the politics of violence by joining the elections.”

Fight municipal polls, dont be unreasonable: AL to BNP

Urging the BNP to contest the December 30 municipal elections, Awami League leaders said yesterday (Friday) that the BNP should not set any unreasonable condition. The AL leaders were addressing a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Swadhinata Parishad in the citys Shilpakala Academy auditorium. Speaking on the occasion, food minister and AL Dhaka city unit joint general secretary, Quamrul Islam, hoped that that BNP would participate in the elections unconditionally. I request the BNP not to boycott the polls by putting forward any reasonable condition, he said. Condemning the attack on a Shia mosque in Bogra on Thursday, the minister said recent attacks on foreigners, tazia processions and the attack on a policeman in the capital are linked. A quarter with vested interest has been conspiring to hinder the nations progress. But their plot would come a cropper as the government is vigilant and is committed to foiling terrorist attacks, he added. Addressing the same programme, AL publicity and publication affairs secretary, Dr Hasan Mahmud, said good sense has finally prevailed over the BNP, as it is set to contest the municipal elections under the party banner. He added: We request the BNP not to boycott the polls on any pretext. We hope the BNP will eschew the politics of violence by joining the elections.