Islamist party tells Yunus to ban Awami ally Jatiya Party

Dhaka: Bangladesh's largest Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on Sunday conveyed to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus to ban the activities of Jatiya Party , tagging it an ally of the banned Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League , ahead of the parliamentary polls due in Feb.

The former PM Khaleda Zia-led BNP, however, said the "unholy efforts of evil forces" to create a ground for thwarting the poll are gradually becoming visible, an apparent reference to JeI and its ally National Citizen's Party (NCP), the leaders of which played a key role in the Hasina govt's ouster.

Talking to reporters, JeI chief Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said, "Jatiya Party worked as an ally of Awami League. You can also take a similar decision on Jatiya Party like the decision you took about Awami League (banning it)." NCP also wants Jatiya Party to be banned

Yunus held separate meetings with JeI, NCP and BNP delegations, amid a spurt in political violence. "There is no alternative to elections. It would be extremely dangerous for the nation if anyone contemplates an alternative," said the chief adviser during discussions with top political leaders, according to his press secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Alam said Yunus assured leaders that the national election will be held in the first half of Feb next year in a free, fair, and festive manner, as outlined in his recent address to the nation.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday said that "almost a year ago, I said invisible forces were working". "Now, the evil-efforts of the ill-forces are becoming visible in preparing the ground to destroy the opportunity for people to establish their rights in Bangladesh through elections," he said.