Bangladesh’s ruling AL party suffers big blow as key ally boycotts election

DHAKA, Dec. 3 (nsnewswire) — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party has suffered a big blow as its key ally Jatiya Party announced to boycott election slated for Jan. 5.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad made the announcement Tuesday morning saying “my party would not participate in the upcoming election”.
His announcement came a day after deadline for submitting nomination papers for the 10th parliamentary election expired.
“I’m not going to polls because all parties did not come in election.”
He said “I had earlier promised that I wont take part in the national polls without the participation of all political parties.”
“I kept my promise,” he said.
No poll aspirant from ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its 17 allies including key Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party has submitted nomination paper. The deadline for submission of nomination papers was Dec. 2, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.
“BNP-led main opposition alliance will boycott the general elections organized by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government,” said a senior party leader who did not like to be named Monday.
“It’s a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people of Bangladesh.”
Clashes between opposition protesters and Hasina’s ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) activists flared in many places also on Tuesday, leaving six dead and dozens of other members injured as clashes flared up between protesters and police.
“Six people were dead in three Bangladesh districts during Tuesday’s blockade violence while ,” local INDEPENDENT television reported.