Bangladesh News

The Awami League (AL)-led 14-party alliance may relax the ongoing blockade programme if the caretaker government (CG) gave a “positive” decision over the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC).

AL President Sheikh Hasina at an emergency meeting with the liaison committee of the 14-party coalition last night discussed details of the blockade programme and its impact on common people and businesses.

The 14-party blockade programme has almost paralysed the country during the last three days. The coalition enforced the non-stop countrywide blockade programme to press home its 11-point demand to create a congenial atmosphere for holding a free and fair election.

The demands include reconstitution of the EC, removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), three other controversial election commissioners, EC secretary and cancellation of 300 upazila election officers’ appointment orders.

The AL chief is supposed to brief newsmen this evening over the latest political situation of the country and announce a relaxed blockade programme after the CG’s decision, sources said.

At a press briefing at AL’s Dhanmondi office, 14-party Coordinator Abdul Jalil alleged that the country itself, its democracy, sovereignty and peoples fate are under threat as the president assumed the charge of chief adviser (CA) to the CG violating the constitution.

Jalil, also the AL general secretary, reiterated the demand to President/Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed to appoint a non-partisan person as the CA in order to create a neutral atmosphere for a free and fair election.

If the president failed to do that, the very existence of the country and its democracy will be threatened, he said adding that the president has completely failed to take any effective measurers to create a congenial atmosphere for elections.

He said the CA cannot run 15 ministries and the president has been doing his entire works without following any rules or regulations. Bitterly criticising the president’s activities, Jalil alleged that his activities are forcing the country towards confrontation.

Saying that the home secretary issued an “unlawful” decision over the deployment of the army, keeping the CG in dark, the 14-party leader demanded judicial inquiry into the matter and removal of the “controversial” home secretary within the next couple of days.

Jalil said the president has once again violated the constitution by promoting his press secretary to his adviser.

The AL leader reiterated the demand for immediate reconstitution of the EC, removal of CEC MA Aziz and corrections made in the voter lists before holding a free and fair election.

He also demanded immediate removal of those officials in civil service and police department who were loyal and beneficiaries of the previous regime. He said they should be replaced by those who were deprived of positions or placed as officer on special duty (OSD) by the previous regime.

The AL leader also demanded immediate cancellation of all the contractual appointments made by the BNP-Jamaat government.

Acknowledging that people have been suffering a lot due to the non-stop countrywide blockade programme, Jalil urged countrymen to bear the sufferings a few days more for the greater interests of the nation. He said sometimes sufferings have to be forgotten to achieve a larger goal.

Jalil conveyed a message from the AL chief that she was grateful that the countrymen observed the blockade peacefully. Jalil also thanked businessmen for their non-cooperation with CEC MA Aziz.

Among others, senior 14-party leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Motia Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Bimal Biswas, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Nurul Islam and Dilip Barua were present at the press briefing.