The local body polls are essential before the national election to keep the country’s law and order situation under control, Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, said on Tuesday.

“But, the National Consensus Commission will take a decision in this regard,” Asif, an adviser for the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, said while talking to reporters after emerging from a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner's (DCs) held in Dhaka this noon.

He said the Awami League men who were not involved in the July-August carnage will be able to take part in the upcoming national election if they apologise to the nation.

However, the fate of those who are linked to the genocide will be decided after the trial, Asif, who is also a Youth and Sports Adviser to the interim government, said categorically.

The student leaders who join the new political party will no longer hold any government positions, he told a questioner, adding that a decision has yet to be finalised on who is going to join the new political party.  

Meanwhile, BNP and Bangladesh Jatiya Party have already made their position clear, saying that they would not accept the local body polls before the national election.

Besides, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has said that they want the national election after complete enforcement of the recommendations placed by the government-formed six reform commissions.