The BNP may participate in the next general elections to safeguard the credibility of the electoral process, said Citibank NA Bangladesh, citing its fear of political tension in the run-up to the polls.
In its latest analysis, the subsidiary of US-based leading financial institution Citibank said political tensions had risen in the country since July 2011 when the ruling party used its strong legislative representation to pass a “controversial” constitutional amendment scrapping the caretaker government system.
The amendment has been a bone of contention between the ruling Awami League and the main opposition, which may culminate in a political chaos ahead of the elections due in January, 2014.
“We also sense there is a lot of both external and internal pressure for the opposition BNP coalition to participate [in the polls],” says the bank’s country analysis.
The BNP has maintained that it will not accept polls if the caretaker system is not restored.
However, Citibank in its analysis said, “We think there is a greater than even chance that BNP will participate in the upcoming elections.” There is also room for the ruling party to compromise and provide the BNP with the scope for more representation via forming a joint “interim government”.
The BNP believes that the election process will be undermined under the Awami League-led administration, and is therefore threatening to boycott the next elections.
And if the BNP refrains from taking part in the elections, it would raise questions about the credibility of the electoral process, resulting in a less stable political base for an incoming new administration, according to the analysis. (Source)
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