LDP to join local govt elections

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a component of the BNP-led 20 party alliance, yesterday announced that it would participate in the upcoming local body polls with its electoral symbol.

"It is not possible to participate… under the alliance's banner and we have to select our candidates," said LDP President Oli Ahmed at its fourth council in the capital's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

LDP is the first in the alliance to announce participation in the polls.

Accusing police of harassing the alliance men, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the ruling Awami League would have to pay for it and earlier it could not go to power for 21 years for establishing Bakshal.

Now a fight is going on for polls and democracy and Awami League, opposing it, sent police, he said, urging the party men to not become frustrated as the government was nearing the end of its term.