AL to participate in polls if demand met

"We haven't said we'll not participate in the upcoming national elections... we'll surely take part in the election after our demand for electoral reforms is met," she was quoted as saying to Italian Ambassador Dr Pietro Ballero who called on the opposition leader at her Sudha Sadan residence.

Emerging from an hour-long meeting, Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, "Lack of interest on the part of the alliance government bears the testimony that they are not at all sincere in resolving the current crisis through talks with the Awami League-led 14-party combine."

"The alliance government knows very well they won't come to power again through popular mandate if free, fair and credible polls are arranged in the country... that's why they are preparing a blueprint to rig the national election," he said.

The latest addition to their conspiracy is the new draft voter list, he alleged.

Saber also quoted Hasina as expressing her concern about the new draft voter list during the talks with the Italian envoy. The Italian ambassador wanted to know from the AL side about its stand on the forthcoming elections, he said.

Referring to foreign observers in the next national polls, Saber said it will not be appropriate for the foreign ovservers to oversee the elections prior to the electoral reforms.

AL leaders Kazi Zafarullah MP, Syed Abul Hossain MP, Dr Hasan Mahmud and Mohammad Ziauddin were present in the meeting.