Massive protests if power handed over without reforms

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The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party opposition combine plans to go for a countrywide indefinite hartal and blockade programmes alongside a march towards Dhaka if the present government hands over power ignoring the opposition’s demand for electoral reforms.

The combine is preparing to bring to the capital thousands of demonstrators with sticks, oars and poles of boats from across the country if the government on expiry of its tenure on October 27 hands over power to a caretaker government headed by former chief justice KM Hasan. It also plans to keep the capital blockaded for an indefinite period to make the interim government unable to function.

Following directives from AL chief and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, grassroots level leaders and activists of the party in different districts are now getting ready to come to Dhaka with oars and poles.

“If the ongoing AL-BNP dialogue fails to resolve the issue of electoral reforms as per our demands, we will have no alternative but to go for a countrywide indefinite hartal and blockade programmes to press the demands,” AL Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed said at a meeting of the 14-party combine yesterday.

Tofail feared that the country would head towards political confrontations and crisis if their demands for reforms in caretaker government system and the Election Commission (EC) are not met by the present government.

AL acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader said people who will come to Dhaka with sticks, oars and poles will keep the capital blockaded until the reform demands are met.

Prime Minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s recent comments on the reform proposals have made the opposition leaders apprehend that the government would not accept those.

Meanwhile, after four days of talks between BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil on the reform issue, they told newsmen that they have come ‘very close’ to resolving many problems.

But sources close to both the leaders said the dialogue got stuck over the issue of Justice Hasan, which might get settled on October 16.

Branding Justice Hasan and Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz as BNP loyalists, the opposition combine has long been agitating for appointment of a ‘neutral person’ instead of Hasan as chief of caretaker government, removal of Aziz and 29 other demands to ensure a free and fair election.

“Come to Dhaka, with whatever you can lay your hands on, on the day the present government will step down and KM Hasan will assume office without realising our demands. We will see how Hasan-led caretaker government and Aziz-led Election Commission continue functioning,” Hasina roared at a mammoth rally in the capital on September 18.

14-PARTY MEETING
The 14-party at a meeting yesterday at the AL central office on Bangabandhu Avenue with Tofail Ahmed in the chair discussed the current political situation in the country. The meeting observed that if Hasan is made chief of the next interim government, people would react sharply and take to the streets.

Briefing newsmen later, Tofail said they want a neutral and non-partisan caretaker government in accordance with the Constitution. But KM Hasan and Aziz are BNP loyalists. The chief adviser of caretaker government should be appointed on the basis of a consensus and the Election Commission must be reconstituted to ensure a free and fair election.

Referring to a BNP leader’s comment that people would take to the streets with sickles to face those with oars and poles, the meeting said a serious situation might arise. Political confrontations and crisis are inevitable if a peaceful solution to the reform issue is not made immediately, it felt.

The meeting criticised the government’s role in handling readymade garments sector. It also stressed a compromise between the owners and employees of this sector in the greater interest of the nation.

The leaders who attended the meeting included Motia Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader, Abdul Mannan, Dilip Barua, Nurul Islam, MA Gani, Zakir Hossain, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Mainuddin Khan Badal and Nazmul Haque Pradhan.

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