After indicating their participation in the January 22 polls, the 14-party opposition led by former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina have now decided to boycott the elections alleging that it was “stage-managed.” Discounting the “legitimacy” of “such an election” that is “without a legitimate voters’ list,” Hasina said that her coalition had given “enough time” for caretaker President Iajuddin Ahmed to demonstrate his “neutrality” who has apparently failed on this score and continues to be “partisan.” Consequently, the opposition has withdrawn all nominations that they had filed on the last day to go through with the procedure.

The opposition combine will also launch a country-wide blockade on January 7 and 8 to coerce the caretaker government to accede to their demands which include a cleaner voter list, revamp of the tainted election commission, and postponement of the election date. They say that Ahmed wants to bring the right-wing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jammat-e-Islami “back to power.”

Bangladesh Constitution requires elections to be held within 90 days of dissolution of the Parliament and Acting Chief Election Commission Mahfuzur Rahman and BNP leader Khaleda Zia said that the elections will be held on schedule “even if the Awami League-led coalition refrains from the polls.”