Parties trade barbs over Bangladesh electoral reform

DHAKA, Apr 10 (Reuters) Ruling party officials in Bangladesh have accused the opposition of trying to sow discord by making a proposal on electoral reforms ahead of elections next January but then setting preconditions for any talks.

An agreement in principle to hold talks over the proposals hit an immediate hurdle last week when the opposition insisted that the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) exclude its coalition partner, Jamaat-e-Islami party, from the discussion.

The opposition accuses Jamaat of helping the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan and more lately of harbouring Islamist militants fighting for the introduction of Islamic sharia law in Bangladesh.

''They (the opposition) are spreading confusion and controversy in the name of reforms and we must stay alert against their evil motives,'' Tareq Rahman, Khaleda's son and senior joint secretary general of the BNP, said late yesterday.

''They are not at all sincere to hold a dialogue but are trying to retard development and promote chaos in the country,'' he told students in the coastal Barisal district while on tour to rally supporters ahead of the parliamentary poll.

The BNP and Sheikh Hasina's opposition Awami League have exchanged letters in the weeks since Hasina proposed the reforms but no date has yet been set for a meeting.

They are yet to name representatives for the talks, officials in both the parties said today.

The BNP argues that Jamaat deserves representation in any talks on electoral reform as it holds seats in parliament, but senior Awami leader and former minister Tofayel Ahmed said the opposition could not agree to include the party.

''We cannot discuss anything with the enemies of Bangladesh's independence and patrons of Islamist extremists,'' he said.

Awami League's acting general secretary, Obaidul Kader, today said that the party would step up protests, including a planned siege of the prime minister's office on April 19, to force the government to agree to the reforms.

''They (BNP) are killing time by insisting on Jamaat's inclusion,'' he said.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE The proposed reforms include sacking of the incumbent chief election commissioner, M.A. Aziz, for allegedly having a pro-government bias and changes in the country's caretaker administration system to make general elections free.

The dispute has dampened hope for an end to the differences between the two largest parties, known for their unending feud over almost every political and national issue and headed by two women with almost absolute authority over their parties.

''They are still at square one,'' said Raisul Islam, a private banker and political observer.

''They won't join hands in anything that would benefit the country, democracy and people,'' he told Reuters today.

Concerns also remain high over the rise of Islamist militants in Bangladesh, a mainly Muslim democracy. The militants have killed at least 30 people and wounded 150 in a series of bomb attacks across the country since August 17 last year.

State Minister for Home Affairs, Lutfuzzaman Babar, told reporters yesterday he did not believe the militant movement was crushed despite the arrest of key leaders.

''The next election is very important for Bangladesh as the country is passing through a series of crisis now, including a virtual breakdown in supplies of power, gas, fuel and soaring prices,'' said a senior government official.

At least 10 farmers have been killed in violence since January during protests in the country's north against poor supply of diesel, at higher prices, to run irrigation pumps.

''A new government picked up through a credible and honest election participated by all political parties would be able to address the critical issues,'' said the official who asked not to be named.

REUTERS SHR PM1506