The Communist Party of Bangladesh-CPB has decided not to join the next national election under a partisan government.

The decision was taken in separate meetings of the party’s central committee and national council held on November 17 and 18 at its central office with party CPB president Mohammad Shah Alam in the chair, said a press release on Sunday.

The party expressed deep concern over the announcement of the election schedule ignoring public opinions by keeping the partisan government in place.

It said political conflicts and clashes will continue if the election is held without a neutral government: “People's lives and assets will be harmed and the current government's plan to hold one-sided elections will be implemented.”

The CPB central committee meeting reiterated the party’s call for the resignation of the government and for initiating talks on the outlines of a non-partisan, neutral government for holding a participatory and acceptable election.

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It also called upon the Election Commission to reschedule the election by ensuring that a non-partisan, neutral government will oversee the polls.

“In the current situation, there is no possibility of holding a fair and acceptable election under the partisan government. The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) will not participate in the elections under the partisan government,” the party said.

The CPB also warned that misrule will be prolonged if a lopsided election is held in Bangladesh. “The ongoing conflict and clashes will escalate. As a result, domestic and foreign dark forces will try to take the country to an undemocratic trend.”

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In the meetings, the party also discussed the growing price hikes in daily essentials and the minimum wage for the readymade garment (RMG) workers that was announced recently depriving the workers of their fair wages.

Earlier in the meeting of the CPB National Council on November 17, 43 representatives of different districts expressed their views on the political situation of the country and the election schedule announced by the Election Commission.