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| Bangladesh |
| BÂ’desh parties, election commission in new talks |
| 2008-02-25 |
| DHAKA - Bangladesh’s election commission began on Sunday a second round of talks with political parties aimed at setting the stage for a national vote this year. The election would put Bangladesh back on the road to democracy after an army-backed interim authority imposed emergency rule at the beginning of 2007. Those who met commission officials for talks were Bikalpa Dhara (alternative stream) made up of breakaways from major parties and the small left-wing Bangladesh Samajbadi Dal, both hoping for a berth in parliament in polls expected around year-end. Sunday’s discussions were part of a second round of talks with dozens of parties including the Awami League led by detained former prime minister Shaikh Hasina. The Awami League is due to see the commission on Monday. But a meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of another detained former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, has not been scheduled yet, as the party tries to end internal feuds and restore unity. ‘We shall wait (to invite the BNP until they come up as one group and under a unified leadership,’ one election official said at the weekend. |
| Posted by:Steve White |