Dhaka: Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League today said its preparation was underway for the December 18 elections, while her archrival Khaleda Zia's BNP threatened to boycott it unless the poll date was deferred and emergency rule completely lifted in two days.
"Discussions with our combine partners are underway on distribution of electoral constituencies and we are expecting to complete the arrangement by later today," a senior Awami League leader said today.
His comments came as the Awami league began negotiations with its left leaning allies in the 14-party rightwing alliance as the party s presidium member Amir Hossain Amu told newsmen that they had renewed their pledge to contest the polls keeping the alliance united.
Awami League (AL) yesterday finalised its nominations leaving out a number of party bigwigs apparently for conviction on graft charges under a massive anti-graft campaign.
But in an overnight development BNP threatened to boycott the polls unless the state of emergency was not completely withdrawn in next two days and the election date was deferred to enable "hajj pilgrims to cast their votes" on their return home from Saudi Arabia in January.
"BNP and the four-party alliance are declaring that they will contest in the upcoming elections if the government meets our demands within the next 48 hours," Zia said after a meeting of her BNP-led four-party alliance late last night.
"We hope now the government, showing its good intentions, will create a congenial atmosphere for the polls... Otherwise the Election Commission and the government will be held responsible for the unstable situation regarding the election".
