Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday night decided to join the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) polls billed for 22 December as the party believes in democracy and change in power through election.

However, the party decided to boycott the district council polls as it thinks this election system is contradictory to the constitution.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, at its chairperson’s Gulshan office.

The meeting began at about 9:05pm with party Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair.

Emerging from the meeting midway, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul said, ‘Our standing committee has decided that BNP will take part in Narayanganj City Corporation polls as we believe in democracy.

He further said, ‘BNP is a democratic party and it believes in change in power through polls. That’s why we’ve decided to participate in Narayanganj City Corporation elections.’

About Zila Parishad polls, the BNP leader said the election is not going to be held following the proper system as per the guidelines of constitution. ‘The polls system is contradictory to the constitution.’

He alleged that the results of the Zila Parishad polls have been prepared before its voting as voters of the elections are only elected representatives. ‘This election won’t be effective and bring anything good for the country. So, we’ve decided to boycott Zila Parishad polls.

Fakhrul said the BNP standing committee also worked out a plan to stage countrywide demonstrations on 21 November protesting the issuance of warrant for the arrest of Khaleda Zia in the case filed against her for celebrating ‘fake’ birthday on National Mourning Day on 15 August.

He said BNP leaders will stage demonstrations in all cities, district towns and thana headquarters protesting the arrest warrant.

A court here on Thursday issued the warrant for Khaleda’s arrest in case filed by former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Gazi Zahirul Islam case on August 30 last.

Fakhrul said the meeting of the BNP policymakers thinks the warrant was issued as part of a blueprint to make Bangladesh apolitical by eliminating opposition parties.

He said the meeting paid homage to party standing committee member ASM Hanan Shah, who died on 27 September last, recalling his contributions to the party.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Tariqul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were present.