Awami League, BNP at loggerheads over next general election

The ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP have made no headway in resolving their differences on the holding of the next general election, causing uncertainty in the political arena and triggering concern across Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former premier Khaleda Zia has said it will not take part in the election unless a scrapped system of having a non-party caretaker government for exercising oversight is restored.
Zia's arch-rival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the polls will be held in line with the newly amended Constitution, which allows the incumbent government to continue as an interim administration until the election.

Hasina yesterday warned the BNP against making any move to thwart the national election to be held under her government.
Both the Awami League and BNP have announced that they will take to the streets and hold rallies in Dhaka on October 25.
Zia added to tensions in the political arena by threatening to launch a massive street campaign if Hasina does not leave office by October 24 so that elections can be held under a non-party caretaker government.

The term of the current parliament expires on October 25 and the Constitution requires the holding of the general election within 90 days.

The Election Commission has called for talks to end the impasse.
"We await a negotiation between the two major parties. If they can't reach a consensus (on the electoral system), we (Election Commission) will go ahead in line with the constitutional provisions," Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed told reporters yesterday.
The rigid stance adopted by the Awami League and BNP has also prompted several countries, including the US, and the United Nations to intervene and urge their leaders to resolve the impasse through dialogue.