Dhaka (AsiaNews)
- The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has won the municipal
elections in all four cities voting yesterday: Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna and
Rajshahi. According
to the National Election Commission, about 1.2 million voters, at least 80%, went
to the polls. In
general, the BNP candidate got 60% of the vote, against 40% of the ruling party
Awami League candidates.
The
clear BNP victory is a sign for both the country and for the AL. For
months, the Nationalist Party has been supporting hartal (strikes) and events
organized by the Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Party), which have often resulted in
violence. Since
February, the Jamaat has been battling the verdicts
of the war crimes tribunals, created by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to
judge the crimes committed by members of the Islamist party during the conflict
that led to the independence of Bangladesh. Among
the protagonists of these hartal, which have plunged the country and the
population into almost constant tension, is Hefajat-e-Islam ("Protector of
Islam"), one of Islamic fundamentalist groups that has sprung up like
mushrooms in recent months, born within the numerous madrassas (Koranic
schools) that are spread throughout Bangladesh.
In
fact the "alliance" between the two opposition parties has favored
the victory of the Nationalist Party. The
Jamaat - who had no candidates in any of the four cities, ed - has proven it
has a strong following among the population and that can exert influence in the
upcoming general elections, scheduled for the end of the year.