Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil yesterday alleged the office of the president is being controlled by “Hawa Babhan” and urged the president to show responsible attitude in running state affairs.

“President, you should not be influenced by Hawa Bhaban. Your office is being controlled by this bhaban…its not fair, it should be stopped,” he said at a press briefing at AL’s Dhanmondi office in the evening.

Jalil, also the coordinator of the 14-party combine, asked BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan not to “mislead” the nation and not to put “pressure” on the president.

He further urged the president to appoint a new chief adviser to the caretaker government according to the constitution for holding a free, fair and credible election.

Jalil was critical of Justice MA Aziz for holding on to the office of the chief election commissioner “ignoring the whole nation’s desire” and asked him to resign immediately to save the country from confrontation.

The AL general secretary was also highly critical of Adviser Justice Fazlul Huq for his reported remark about the Awami League-led 14-party combine, saying this proved that he is “a partisan, not neutral person” and he is “not fit” to be an adviser.

Jalil urged the chief adviser to remove Justice Fazlul Huq from the council of advisers.

Referring to the BNP secretary general’s demand for resignation of advisers CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal for their meeting with Sheikh Hasina at her residence Thursday night, he said they met the Awami League president as per directive of the chief adviser.

“The Awami League-led 14-party combine wants to participate in the election and it doesn’t believe in any conspiracy against election,” Jalil said.

He demanded reconstitution of the Election Commission, saying that no credible election is possible under this Election Commission. He further demanded updating the existing voter list.

Jalil urged the president to take proper initiatives to make the state-owned BTV neutral and give permission to resume telecast by the private TV channel, ETV.

Central leaders of the 14-party combine were present at the press briefing.