Bangladesh News

Senior leaders of Awami League (AL) yesterday demanded that the government hold the long-stalled ninth parliamentary election by the third week of October.

They also alleged that the government is trying to delay the general election on the pretence of introducing new electoral provisions and holding upazila election first.

Addressing the military-backed caretaker administration, AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, “Drop the plans for any other polls before the parliamentary election. You’d better prepare to hold the general election by the third week of October and announce the schedule immediately.”

If the final voter list can be published on September 4, then it’s quite possible to hold the parliamentary polls by October.

The AL leader was speaking at a discussion marking the fourth anniversary of death of Ivy Rahman who along with 23 others was killed in the August 21 grenade blasts at an AL rally.

Bangladesh Mohila AL organised the programme at the party headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue to mourn Ivy, its slain chief and wife of acting party president Zillur Rahman.

Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said the Election Commission (EC) has only four months to hold the parliamentary election as per the electoral roadmap.

Holding upazila polls first would add to uncertainty over the fate of all-important national election planned for the third week of December, he observed.

Motia Chowdhury, another member of the presidium, said they are resolved to bringing the masterminds behind the August 21 bloodbath to book through forming a government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Among others, AL Law Secretary Sahara Khatun and Women Affairs Secretary Dipu Moni spoke at the discussion chaired by Mohila AL President Ashrafunnesa Mosharraf.

The same day, AL leaders at another discussion in the city said the caretaker administration should announce the schedule for parliamentary polls without delay.

“Incorporation of unnecessary provisions into the Representation of the People Order (RPO), plans to hold upazila election first, and dilly-dallying about withdrawal of the state of emergency are raising doubt in the public mind about the general election,” said AL Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta.

Abdur Razzak, another presidium member, spoke as the chief guest at the discussion.

He said the country’s very existence would be at stake if the government fails to hand over power to an elected government by December.

“Why should the caretaker administration hold upazila polls before the parliamentary election? It’s never their duty,” he added.

Sammilita Tarun Peshajibi Parishad organised the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium to mark the 33rd anniversary of death of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Discussants urged all to unite in pursuing the ideals of secularism and democracy.

Journalist-columnist Shahriar Kabir said those who were born after 1971 do not know enough about the struggle for independence and Bangabandhu. He called for measures to educate the younger generation about what Bangabandhu did for the nation’s independence.

Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shymol Dutta said no organisation, not even AL, has bothered to carry out an in-depth research on Bangabandhu’s contribution to the liberation movement.

Referring to the August 21 grenade blasts on AL rally, Suranjit alleged that some intelligence officials had cooked up the “Joj Miah story” to keep under wraps the involvement of Khaleda Zia and Lutfozzaman Babar.

He demanded immediate arrest of the officials who had “attempted the cover-up”.

He also called on the government to commission an official of deputy inspector general’s rank to prepare a supplementary charge sheet in the case filed for August 21 carnage.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu said the next general election is crucially important for the country’s existence.

Peshajibi Parishad President Barrister Zakir Ahmed presided over the discussion addressed among others by AL Organising Secretary Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Sahara Khatun, Dipu Moni and Jatiya Sramik League General Secretary Roy Ramesh Chandra.