Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) yesterday said it would not accept local government polls before the general election, and reiterated its call for the Election Commission (EC) to set an election date without delay.

It also observed that a caretaker government does not have the authority to hold elections to local government bodies.

Speaking at a discussion marking the historic March 7 at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, AL leaders demanded that the government release their detained chief Sheikh Hasina within a week and send her to the US for ear treatment.

They said there’s no question that if released for treatment abroad she would return to lead the party and the nation.

Acting AL president Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting.

He urged the leaders and workers to stay united and prepared to join any movement that the party might need to launch to free Hasina. “We hope the government will set her free and we’ll contest the election under her leadership,” he said.

Addressing the government, AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu said, “You release Hasina and we will ensure her better treatment.”

Another member of the Presidium, Abdur Razzak, said a conspiracy is on to foil the polls, and demanded that the Election Commission (EC) announce a date for the national election without delay.

He said the responsibility to hold local government polls does not rest with the caretaker government. Rather, their only duty is to have the parliamentary election held in a free and fair manner.

He called for the EC to hold the national election first.

Razzak warned that the government would have to shoulder the responsibility if anything happens to Hasina for not being allowed overseas treatment.

Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed asked the interim administration to hold dialogue with the political parties and create an atmosphere conducive to holding a fair and credible election.

“There is confusion in public mind whether the election will be held as per the roadmap since the chief adviser and advisers are making contradictory statements about the national election and local government polls,” he said.

Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta said no polls would be allowed before the general election. He cautioned the EC that cases would be lodged if it opts to hold the local government polls first. He asked the commission to announce immediately a specific date for the long-stalled parliamentary election.

Acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam gave the government a seven-day time to release Hasina and send her to the US. “Treatment of her ears is only possible in Florida as that’s where she had treatment several times before.”

AL leader Asaduzzaman Noor recited a poem while Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Latif Siddiqui, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Yafes Osman, AKM Jahangir Hossain, Prof Abu Sayeed, Habibur Rahman Khan, MA Aziz and Qamrul Islam spoke among others.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan and different socio-cultural organisations arranged programmes to commemorate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech, a watershed in the nation’s struggle for independence.