Bangladesh's parliamentary election, scheduled for Dec. 18, may be put off for a few days to attract a major party that has yet to agree to participate, analysts and officials said on Monday. Their comments came after the country's chief negotiator with political parties, Hossain Zillur Rahman, said the government did not want to do anything casually in its efforts to restore democracy, and needs participation of all in the process. “We don't want to do anything ‘jeno teno bhabe' (casually or whimsically) for returning the country to democracy,” Zillur told reporters on the sidelines of an award-giving ceremony. “Rather we would like a coordinated effort by all (political parties) to accomplish the process and (I think) we are heading towards a good solution,” he added, without elaborating. Analysts said Zillur's language suggested Bangladesh's army-backed interim government could be backing away from insisting on the Dec. 18 election date. “This is an about turn, but unavoidable as the government is unable to take any firm decision. They tend to give in to pressure and often contradict (themselves),” said professor Atatur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Political Science Association. Fakhruddin Ahmed, head of the interim government, told senior police and civil officials on Monday that “preparations for the Dec. 18 election are almost complete.” He also asked them to perform their duties “without fear or favour” to ensure the vote is free, fair and credible. Only one of the country's two main parties – the Awami League – has so far agreed to take part in the Dec. 18 poll.
