JP plans to boycott UP polls after third phase

The Jatiya Party-Ershad (JP-Ershad) is planning to boycott the next phases of Union Parishad (UP) elections, alleging massive irregularities and interference by Awami League leaders in the first two phases of the six-phase local body polls. “We are thinking about it. We will decide after the third phase. If the trend continues in the third phase, we will be forced to boycott the elections,” JP co-chairman GM Quader told this correspondent yesterday (Monday). Due to massive irregularities and violence during the first two phases of UP polls, the BNP too is thinking about  boycotting the next phases. Over 30 people, including a school boy and a Dhaka University student, were killed and hundreds, including three election officials, were injured in sporadic violence in the first and second phases of UP polls held on Mar 22 and 31.
At a press conference at the JP headquarters at Banani in the city yesterday, JP co-chairman GM Quader said the local government polls were not held in a free, fair and credible manner owing to muscle-flexing by AL leaders and workers.
“We have seen massive irregularities in the UP polls. We have evidence and have submitted our allegations to the EC and demanded re-election. But the EC is yet to respond which is unfortunate,” he said. Replying to a question, the JP leader said: “We want to keep the democratic process alive by participating in polls, but if interference by ruling party leaders and activists continues in the next phase, we will take a decision on boycotting the polls.”
Criticizing the Election Commission and Sheikh Hasina government, Quader said people are losing faith in the EC. This is an ominous sign and would harm the electoral process in future. He also feared that in the near future people's representatives would be fixed by issuing a gazette notification. This would be harmful for all. Replying to another question, Quader said his party's position in the UP polls is not satisfactory because of the massive irregularities, muscle flexing and threats by ruling party cadres, and failure of the EC to provide a level playing field.
“A small section of the Jatiya Party is regulated by an external force for which it cannot expose its political stand. This is why the party is losing people's confidence. But we hope this will change soon,” he said in reply to another question.

JP plans to boycott UP polls after third phase

The Jatiya Party-Ershad (JP-Ershad) is planning to boycott the next phases of Union Parishad (UP) elections, alleging massive irregularities and interference by Awami League leaders in the first two phases of the six-phase local body polls. We are thinking about it. We will decide after the third phase. If the trend continues in the third phase, we will be forced to boycott the elections, JP co-chairman GM Quader told this correspondent yesterday (Monday). Due to massive irregularities and violence during the first two phases of UP polls, the BNP too is thinking about boycotting the next phases. Over 30 people, including a school boy and a Dhaka University student, were killed and hundreds, including three election officials, were injured in sporadic violence in the first and second phases of UP polls held on Mar 22 and 31. At a press conference at the JP headquarters at Banani in the city yesterday, JP co-chairman GM Quader said the local government polls were not held in a free, fair and credible manner owing to muscle-flexing by AL leaders and workers. We have seen massive irregularities in the UP polls. We have evidence and have submitted our allegations to the EC and demanded re-election. But the EC is yet to respond which is unfortunate, he said. Replying to a question, the JP leader said: We want to keep the democratic process alive by participating in polls, but if interference by ruling party leaders and activists continues in the next phase, we will take a decision on boycotting the polls. Criticizing the Election Commission and Sheikh Hasina government, Quader said people are losing faith in the EC. This is an ominous sign and would harm the electoral process in future. He also feared that in the near future peoples representatives would be fixed by issuing a gazette notification. This would be harmful for all. Replying to another question, Quader said his partys position in the UP polls is not satisfactory because of the massive irregularities, muscle flexing and threats by ruling party cadres, and failure of the EC to provide a level playing field. A small section of the Jatiya Party is regulated by an external force for which it cannot expose its political stand. This is why the party is losing peoples confidence. But we hope this will change soon, he said in reply to another question.