Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded the caretaker government and the Election Commission (EC) specify the time for holding the next election and lift the ban on indoor politics without delay.

“The chief adviser has said that they won’t be in power even for a day more than necessary. We trust them. But they should set a precise timescale for the election,” said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil at his Mercantile Bank office.

“We could not begin the work on reforms due to the ban on indoor politics. So, the government should withdraw it immediately,” he said.

Jalil regretted that there has not been much progress in the voter-listing even though it is a prerequisite for elections. He suggested that the EC should clarify the rationale for the 18-month period that it said it would need to hold the election. He urged the EC to speed up the preparations for the polls and not to use any dillydallying tactics.

The AL leader also observed that the long-time curbs on political activities have dealt a blow to the public aspiration for democracy.

“When the chief of army staff has categorically said that the military has no ambition for state power, then what’s taking the government so long to withdraw the ban on indoor politics,” asked Jalil.

He also termed irrational the law adviser’s fear that chaos will rear its head again if the ban goes.

Jalil said they are always in favour of reforming the party. It was the AL who placed 31-point reform proposals in parliament. “We are ready to help the government carry out necessary reforms. We want them to implement the electoral reforms we had proposed,” said the AL leader.

“Sometimes it’s not possible for an elected government to carry out many things. However, if this government have a go at those, we will be happy to assist them,” the AL general secretary said without elaborating on the matter.

He congratulated the recently promoted top brass of the armed forces. “The armed forces stood by the people on several occasions, and we hope this time they will prepare a flawless and fair voter roll and help the nation march towards democracy,” he said.

Jalil said they have sent separate letters to missions of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia, requesting information about how the governments in their countries go about providing the political parties with state funds.

He said that the AL central working committee will meet to discuss the issue after receiving replies from the high commissions. “Later on, we will let the Election Commission know about what we think about it,” he added.