It�s for the sake of democracy
BNP confirms participation in UP polls
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) yesterday alleged that they would participate in the upcoming union parishad (UP) elections only for the sake of democracy though they knew that the polls would be held one-sided like the last municipality polls.
We know the UP polls will be one-sided like the municipality elections. But we have decided to take part in it for the sake of democracy, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said. The BNP leader told this to journalists on the Election Commission Secretariat premises after handing over the partys letter to the Commission, signed by its Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir to notify BNPs participation in the UP polls. Today we have come to inform the Election Commission about out participation in the UP polls. Various political parties, election experts and members of civil society think that there will be an adverse impact on social arena if the UP polls are held under party banner because the UP candidates are known by their personal identity not by political banner, Rizvi said.
Our party thinks that the social fabric will be shattered if the local body polls are held under partisan manner. It will create conflicts in the rural areas. Despite this, we have taken decision to participate in election for the sake of democracy, he added.
Replying to a query why BNP is raising objection about partisan election in UP polls, Rizvi said, Earlier in the municipality polls, we told the EC not to hold polls under party banner but the Commission did not take it into consideration.
