The Awami League (AL)-led alliance yesterday asked the caretaker government to announce a specific date for withdrawal of the state of emergency.
The combine, now down to an alliance of nine parties from 14, demanded that the Election Commission repeal the 91(E) provision of the Representation of the People Order and announce a fresh upazila polls schedule cancelling the present one.
The alliance made the demands at a meeting at AL President Sheikh Hasina’s political office in the capital’s Dhanmondi with party presidium member Amir Hossain Amu in the chair.
The BNP-led four-party combine had earlier made similar demands as preconditions for taking part in the general elections now scheduled for December 29.
“One of our main demands has been the withdrawal of the state of emergency, but the government is yet to meet the demand,” Amu said while briefing journalists after the meeting.
Referring to the comments of Education Adviser Hossain Zillur and Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed over lifting of emergency, Amu said, “We do not see any sign of withdrawing emergency.”
Commenting on upazila polls schedule, the AL leader said the upazila elections must be deferred for at least a month since the holding of the parliamentary elections.
The leaders of the AL-led alliance discussed various issues including the coalition’s prospective candidates and seat sharing but failed to reach a final decision.
Amu said the matter of seat sharing between AL and its allies would be finalised within a ‘very short time.’ He said his party’s nominations would also be revised after sharing seats with its allies.
He also expressed concern over holding of the December 29 parliamentary polls following changes in its schedule several times.
The meeting asked the government to ensure holding of the national elections on December 29.
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Abdul Jalil, Suranjit Sengupta, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Nurul Islam, Dilip Barua, Abdus Samad, Asit Baran Roy, among others, were present.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
