Bangladeshi president urged to declare emergency amid uncertainties

As Bangladesh's pre-election politics turned uncertain following the opposition's decision to boycott the Jan. 22 general elections, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) on Saturday urged President Iajuddin Ahmed to declare emergency to save the country from confrontation.

The grand alliance led by Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina will enforce a nationwide road blockade on Jan.7-8 to resist the unilateral election. Hasina has threatened non-stop blockade for 10 days if the caretaker government of President Iajuddin Ahmed does not cancel the Jan. 22 poll and go for fresh election with a correct voter list.

After a board meeting, FBCCI acting President Mohammad Ali urged the President to "save the country at any cost by declaring emergency" as there is no alternative to get rid of present political crisis.

He said: "We are very much anxious about the present situation, if this persists the economy will be ruined and the country will also heading towards destruction."

The AL-led grand alliance announced on Wednesday that it will not join the national election as conducive environment for a clean and credible election was not yet created by the caretaker government.

Bangladesh introduced the caretaker government in 1996, which stipulates that a non-party caretaker government will supervise the national election within three months after it takes office.

President Iajuddin Ahmed took over the post of Chief Advisor of caretaker government on Oct. 29 as five-year tenure of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party alliance government ran out on Oct. 27.

Source: Xinhua