By IANS
Dhaka : Sweets were distributed and thanksgiving prayers held in many party offices in Bangladesh as political activity – albeit only indoors – revived after nine months, but the dissent-ridden BNP was stopped from reopening its office to apparently avoid a showdown amongst workers.
With the government’s decision to relax curbs on indoor politics coming into effect, hundreds of leaders, workers and supporters gathered at their party offices. They exchanged greetings and hugged each other, as many met for the first time in months.
Workers of different political parties expressed satisfaction at the caretaker government’s move. They however called for a complete withdrawal of the ban on politics and the state of emergency as well, The Daily Star reported Tuesday.
The scene was different at the party office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party – headed by former prime minister Khaleda Zia who is in jail along with Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina – which has virtually split into two.
Authorities reportedly wanted to avoid a clash between BNP workers and cordoned off the party office to prevent them from entering.
They thwarted attempts to enter the office by workers led by Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the new secretary general of the party appointed by Zia on Sep 3 just minutes before she was taken to jail.
But expelled secretary general, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, is defiant and claims he has the majority support.
While the government is playing safe, political analysts noted, the Election Commission that has been approached for recognition by both factions says it is not for the poll body to determine who has the majority.
But the poll panel does have a ticklish problem on hand in that it has to decide which of the two factions would be invited to the talks on electoral reforms that begin from Wednesday.
The talks, as a means of reopening of a dialogue with political parties that are clamouring for early polls is the reason why the government has allowed resumption of indoor political activity.
Law and Information Advisor Mainul Hossain said Monday that the government might consider further relaxation after “reviewing” the situation.
The curbs on political activities were imposed under a national emergency imposed on Jan 11.
Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed’s caretaker government that took office the next day called off the ninth general elections. Elections are now scheduled only towards the end of 2008.