adminDHAKA — Another major Bangladesh political party yseterday announced a boycott of the upcoming general election, declaring the country was on the “brink of disaster” as seven more people died in poll protests. Former dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad said his Jatiya Party, the country’s third largest and a key ally of the ruling Awami League, would not contest the 5 January election, following in the footsteps of the opposition alliance.
“Since all parties are not contesting, so the Jatiya Party will also not participate in the polls,” Ershad told reporters.
“I am not going to contest the election. The country is at the brink of disaster. We’re heading towards uncertainty,” Ershad said.
The boycott is a blow to the credibility of the election as pressure mounts to reschedule the date. Only the Awami League and several small left-wing parties are now expected to contest the 300 seats in the national parliament.
“It has hammered the last nail into the election coffin,” said Osman Faruq, spokesperson for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). — AFP.
Online Reporter