Despite allegations of close links with the ruling parties, an alliance of 35 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) yesterday launched a platform styled Election Working Group (EWG) to observe the upcoming polls under the umbrella of The Asia Foundation.

Sources said most of the members of this new grouping are backed by the ruling BNP-Jamaat government.

"Many of these NGOs had worked for the BNP candidates in the last election," said a senior opposition leader preferring anonymity.

Naimul Islam Khan, president of Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) and also an executive member of the Working Group, however denied the allegation.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, he said, "How should we prove that we are not backed by Jamaat. You (journalists) better prove that."

An organisation named Election Monitoring Group (EMG) was formed with 29 organisations to monitor the last election. Now 14 of those have been left out and 20 new outfits included to float the EWG, said sources.

Nari Progoti Sangha, PIT Trust and renowned election monitor Brotee are among the ones excluded.

"Many of the organisations that we called on to join us did not show interest," Jahrul Alam, director of EWG, said at the press meet held at its office on Panthapath in the city.

Sources said Democracywatch, Khan Foundation, Fema, MMC, Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhan Parishad (Janipop) and Lighthouse are the key organisations that combined to form EWG.

Taleya Rahman, wife of a pro-BNP newspaper editor, is the executive director of Democracywatch while Rokshana Khandaker, wife of ICT Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, is at the helm of the Khan Foundation.

Besides, the authorities of Lighthouse, an NGO based in Bogra, are said to be very close to the Hawa Bhaban. BNP lawmaker Ziaul Haque Mollah is one of the crucial figures behind the organisation.

"Every individual may have political leanings, yet things are different when it comes down to professionalism. The people of EWG will work professionally to carry out their responsibilities," Taleya Rehman told the press conference.

Action on Disability and Development (ADD), which usually works for the disabled people, has also been included in the EWG.

At least six NGO chiefs are directly involved with the ruling BNP and will work at the 130 seats where the incumbent lawmakers were elected on the BNP ticket, the sources said.

The Asia Foundation authorities will meet a delegation of Awami League (AL) to discuss the opposition's reservations about a number of NGOs, they added.

Expressing surprise at the launching of the Working Group, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to the leader of the opposition, last night told The Daily Star, "It is unfortunate and unexpected, and we are simply disappointed at the recent developments. We have already communicated our complaints to The Asia Foundation."

Firoje M Hasan, leader of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh and former official of Fema, said, "The people don't trust the CEC and two other election commissioners to conduct a free and fair election, so why the international community should contribute funds for the election observation."

Speaking on neutrality of the EWG, Jahrul said all members of the organisation have committed themselves to abiding by the EWG code of ethics that includes maintaining a strict political neutrality in discharging its duties.

The code of ethics, administrated by the Ethics Committee, also includes a code of conduct for the EWG secretariat and for all field-level staff and volunteers to ensure neutrality, he said.

If an allegation of flouting the code of ethics is raised against any EWG member or personnel, proper disciplinary actions including expulsion will be taken against them, he noted.

Referring to the funding, Jahrul said so far about $4.2 million of a required $6 million has been mobilised.

Taleya Rehman said, "We will also work towards developing an awareness among the people of their voting rights."

Munira Khan, president of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (Fema), said, "We too want the electoral reforms, registration of the political parties and the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat to be independent of the Prime Minister's Office."

Kim McOuay, country representative of The Asia Foundation, AHM Nouman, president of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samonnoy Parishad (BMSP), Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of Janipop, Angela Gomez, Numan Ahmed Khan, executive director of Institute for Environment and Development (IED), also spoke at the press conference.