The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has said that it will contest the upcoming local body polls, which will be held along party lines for the first time.
The announcement on Monday came during the inauguration of the 4th National Convention of the LDP.
It is a key constituent of the 20-party Alliance.
The BNP, which leads the alliance and boycotted the 2014 general elections, is yet to make any announcement over local body polls.
“The local government polls cannot be contested as an alliance. Our party will join the upcoming polls for the Union Parishads and municipalities,” said LDP chief Oli Ahmed, a former BNP leader.
He said that it was about time for a total relook at the Constitution and to consider creating a balance of power between the president and prime minister.
“Politics and politicians are becoming controversial and democracy is being destroyed in a planned way,” said Ahmed.
“It’s not possible to maintain law and order or stability in the country by only boosting development,” said the LDP chief, who had served as a minister under governments led by BNP-founder Ziaur Rahman as well as his wife Khaleda Zia.
He called for shunning the politics of blame-game saying it confuses the people. “It won’t solve any problems or benefit the country.”
Ahmed echoed his alliance’s demand for a free, fair and credible national election.
So far, the local polls were not conducted along political party lines, though parties supported candidates.
The Cabinet cleared amendments to five laws this month paving the way for parties to field candidates in the local body polls.
Source: Bd news24
