‘Bangladesh may lift state of Emergency before polls’

“We have also reached consensus with different political parties including BNP and Awami League during dialogues that the state of Emergency cannot continue indefinitely.” he said.

Three other senior advisers of the interim cabinet who negotiated with the political parties also joined the briefing but did not entertain any question from the reporters.

Rahman’s comments came as backstage parleys were underway to negotiate with Bangladesh Nationalist Party while its chief Khaleda Zia rpt Khaleda Zia told a foreign radio that “the election under the state of Emergency will not be acceptable and it must be withdrawn to ensure a level playing field”.

Her arch-rival AL’s Sheikh Hasina rpt AL’s Sheikh Hasina had earlier demanded complete lifting of Emergency and later floated a proposal to incorporate the “required provisions” of the Emergency rules in ordinary law to ensure participation of all major parties in the polls.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed’s interim administration, which was installed to power with crucial military support after the January 11, 2007 proclamation of the state of Emergency, was earlier reluctant to completely lift the Emergency rules as it might allow graft convicts to come out on bail and contest the polls since their appeals were still pending with the High Court.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party has set the lifting of Emergency as a precondition for participation in the polls. Earlier reports said the anti-graft campaign of the current government exposed BNP to more difficulties compared to Awami League as at least 40 of their ex-lawmakers or ministers were already convicted by special graft courts debarring them from contesting for parliament.

Zia and Hasina also were arrested earlier under the massive anti-graft clampdown but were freed later on bail or parole to face the trial from outside but no court yet convicted them yet.