Awami League-led alliance to join next month's polls

Dhaka, Dec 24 (UNI) The main opposition alliance led by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina has decided to join the parliamentary polls slated for January 22 next year ending weeks of political uncertainity in Bangladesh.

"We have decided to take part in the elections," Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil told local media here today.

The Awami League's decision came within hours of a revised election schedule by the election commission which extends the deadline for filing nomination papers of candidates to December 26 from December 24. However, the polling date set for January 22 remains unchanged.

An official announcement by the Awami League led alliance is expected later today as the alliance leaders are currently holding a meeting at the Gulshan house of Abdul Jalil.

The Awami League-led allinace had been pressing the interim caretaker government of President Iajuddin Ahmed to remove some controversial election commissioners and defer the polling date to pave way for their participation.

The caretaker government has agreed in principle to send election commissioner SM Zakaria on a long leave while the election commissioner has made efforts to correct the existing voters' list to make way for the opposition alliance to participate in the elections.

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