With Bangladesh likely to announce the date for a long-overdue parliamentary election next week, the country's army-backed interim government faces a hard battle to ensure all feuding parties participate. Political analysts and diplomats said the election would not be credible if any of the major parties were left out, and urged them to put aside bad faith and differences to give the impoverished country a chance at real democracy. Ahead of the vote expected in December, the interim government has set itself a number of tasks, including hosting possible talks between feuding former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, and an all-party meeting to discuss ways to make the vote free, fair and peaceful. Political analysts and diplomats have said no election without Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Hasina's Awami League would be credible, as they are still very popular among the vast majority of the voters. Analysts say the government may seek a consensus that the parties would not play foul during and after the vote. Previous elections were marred by violence, use of “black” money, results rigging and stealing of ballot boxes. Parties that lost boycotted parliament and called violent strikes that crippled transport, exports and the economy. The interim government, headed by former central back chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, took over in January 2007 following deadly political violence. The new government cancelled an election due that month, imposed emergency rules and vowed to hold a free and fair vote by the end of 2008 after cleansing politics of widespread corruption. But the efforts seemed to have faltered as many politicians detained on such charges as graft and abuse of power, including the two former prime ministers, have been freed on bail or parole in recent weeks. Retired major-general M.A. Matin, home affairs adviser (minister) to the interim government, expressed dismay on Thursday over courts recently granting so many bail requests, saying it slowed down the anti-corruption drive. He blamed “loopholes” in the system for allowing the accused and convicted to leave jail. However, local media speculate the government may try to persuade the two ex-premiers not to run for seats themselves, and keep many senior party figures who were detained from contesting. “This could be a major yardstick to make politics clean but is unlikely to happen, as grabbing a share of power is still a big deal for our politicians,” said a senior government official who asked not to be identified. Many Bangladeshis want to see Khaleda and Hasina talk face to face, supporting the government's initiative in hope it could resolve the long-running political deadlock in the country. The two women alternated as prime minister over 15 years up to 2006, most of the time barely speaking to each other. The formidable pair, both heirs to political dynasties, came to be known as the “Battling Begums”, a reference to their honorific titles as Muslim women of rank. Khaleda has been positive on the government's proposal for a meeting with Hasina but the latter – now in the United States on parole for medical treatment – will not give a decision until she returns home next month, her party leaders say. However, Zillur Rahman, acting chief of the Awami League, called the government's plan to convene an all-party meeting “unwise and unrealistic,” because Hasina and her allies would not go into talks with the Jamaat-e-Islami party, BNP's staunch ally. – Reuters __
