The Jatiya Oikya Front had also boycotted the parliamentary elections that were held in 2014.
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| JOF convenor Kamal Hossain said the alliance would take part in the 11th national polls |
Newly floated political alliance Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF) on Sunday announced its decision to take part in the next parliamentary election but reiterated its demand to defer the election schedule by a month.
The JOF had also boycotted the parliamentary elections that were held in 2014.
"We have taken the decision to participate in the upcoming 11th national polls as part our ongoing movement," Jatiya Oikya Front convenor Dr Kamal Hossain announced in the presence of other partners of the platform including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at Jatiya Press Club.
He said the election schedule should be deferred to pave the way to make a congenial atmosphere for polls.
"It is very difficult for the Jatiya Oikya Front to make a decision based on the schedule announced by the Election Commission," he said.
"But even in these extremely adverse conditions, the Jatiya Oikya Front has agreed to take part in the elections to preserve democracy in the country. It will thus still be possible to hold the election within the term of the current parliament," he said.
According to the constitution, the election must be held by January 28, 2019.
At the Oikya Front press conference, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said his party had no objection to a delay in the polls. "But the decision must be made for a logical reason and has to be done after holding proper discussions with all parties who intend to run in the election," he said.
In its statement, the Oikya Front cited the two delays for the 2008 elections which it said had been done to ensure greater participation.
"Our movement will continue," said Kamal Hossain. "The movement will continue to press for a participatory election and create a proper environment for the polls."
Earlier, the 20-party alliance led by the BNP held talks separately at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan offices on Saturday evening.
Bangladesh will go to polls on December 23. The polls schedule came despite the Jatiya Oikya Front's repeated requests not to declare the roadmap before resolving their demands over the election.
The deadline for filing nominations is November 19. Returning officers will scrutinise the nomination papers on November 22 and the final date for withdrawing candidacy is November 29, according to the schedule.
The Oikya Front had pressed for a seven-point list of demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and reformation of the Election Commission.
The Awami League has not agreed to the demands even after sitting with the opposition for dialogue.
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