Awami League during its July 3 formal dialogue with the government would raise the demand for holding upazila elections after the parliamentary polls, AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Monday, reports UNB.
He also said AL would not participate in the national and upazila elections if the state of emergency is not lifted before the polls.
Ashraful Islam was briefing journalists after a party meeting with its 14-party partner Workers Party at the Gulshan residence of acting AL president Zillur Rahman in the morning.
The meeting was held as a part of the AL's series of discussions with the 14-party alliance to formulate a common proposal planned to be placed at the dialogue with the government.
AL presidium members and Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon and general secretary Bimol Biswas were present at the meeting.
"AL and Workers Party have reached a consensus that the upazila elections will have to be held after the national election. AL will raise the demand at its dialogue with the government," he said.
Ashraful said they would contest the city corporation and municipality elections as a test case to assess the government's performance in holding the long-awaited parliamentary polls in a free and fair manner.
"Holding elections to four city corporations, nine municipalities and 465 upazilas are not the same thing," he said.
About the state of emergency, Ashraful categorically said AL and its allies would not take part in the national and upazila elections if the emergency is not lifted. Earlier on Sunday, AL said the 14-party along with all the pro-liberation forces and civil society would unitedly contest the city corporation and municipality elections under the banner of Nagarik Committee.
Asked about the nomination process of the 14-party alliance, Ashraful said the central body would not nominate any candidate as it would be decided locally. "But, in case of any dispute over the candidature, the centre will intervene to have the best decision." Talking to the media men, WP leader Bimol Biswas said the national election would be hampered if the upazila elections are held before it.
He said it seems that the government is trying to retreat from its main goal of holding the parliamentary polls.
Bimol warned that it would not bring good for the country if the government fails to remove the doubt in public mind that the national election might be stalled again. AL will sit with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Samyabadi Dal (JSD) and Gonotantri Party today (Tuesday) to discuss agenda of the dialogue and the issues relating to the elections.
An election without one party participating will not be a meaningless or undemocratic exercise, said a senior Jatiya Party leader Monday. Following the party's dialogue session with the government, JP acting chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud said: "The idea that the election would not be meaningful if a party does not participate is completely undemocratic thinking."
"We have to change this idea."
"If we cannot change the culture of undemocratic thinking, real democracy can not be established," said the JP leader.
"People do not want to remain hostage to any party," Anisul told reporters at the chief adviser's office. On the issues raised by the Ershad-led party in dialogue, he said: "We spoke about ensuring the participation of honest and competent people in polls."
"We also presented a number of proposals. Notable among them are steps for bringing balance in the power of the president and the prime minister."
Keeping the price of essentials within a tolerable level, introduction of rationing and inclusion of school teachers and government officials and employees along with rural people under the rationing system, were also among the proposals-as was a speedy decision regarding extraction of gas and coal, said the party leader.
