Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday told President Iajuddin Ahmed that he has failed to prove his neutrality as the chief adviser to the interim caretaker government but he still has time.

“We have given you enough time to act neutrally as the head of caretaker government,” AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil quoted Hasina as telling Iajuddin during her second meeting with the chief adviser.

Hasina also asked Iajuddin not to take any move to declare the election schedule without reconstituting the Election Commission (EC). Otherwise, people will build up strong resistance, she said.

A 14-member delegation of the AL-led 14-party alliance yesterday met Iajuddin at the Bangabhaban upon his invitation.

The chief adviser remained silent when the 14-party leaders raised their demands and different allegations, Jalil said while briefing reporters at the AL Dhanmondi office after the meeting.

The alliance leaders told the chief adviser that his activities so far have not reflected “neutrality”.

“You have not used the time effectively to act neutrally,” they told Iajuddin, adding that it does not seem that there is an interim neutral caretaker government in the country at present.

“The chief adviser rather seems to be serving the purpose of a vested group,” the 14-party leaders alleged, urging the president to save the country from confrontations by fulfilling their demands.

They demanded removal of the CEC to create a congenial environment for holding a free and fair election.

At the briefing, Jalil declared a non-stop blockade programme across the country from today demanding the resignation of the chief adviser.

“We will build up all-out resistance if the caretaker government declares the election schedule without reconstituting the Election Commission through removing the CEC and three election commissioners and updating the voter list correctly,” Jalil said.

Any election under the present CEC will be resisted at any cost, Jalil added.