AL, Workers Party to meet EC with 31-point

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Awami League (AL) and Workers Party have decided that their previous 31-point demand will be the agenda of discussion with the Election Commission (EC).
The 31-point demand concerning reforms of the caretaker government and the EC was first announced by AL President Sheikh Hasina on July 15, 2005.
Briefing newsmen at halfway through the AL-Workers Party meeting Saturday, AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said they would also raise the issue of political party registration process which should be simplified. Besides, patrons of religious extremism and communal forces should not have the right to form political parties, reports UNB.
He said they also opposed a draft proposal that said any criticism of the EC will tantamount to contempt of court.
Tofail said although allies of the 14-party alliance have already taken their individual party decisions in connection with the dialogue with the EC, AL working committee will take a final decision in this connection.
He said the AL-led 14-party combine was formed to realise a free, fair and credible general elections free from black money, muscle power and terrorism and had launched street agitation for that.
Tofail, also a coordinator of the 14-party alliance, said the AL-led alliance noted that the EC announced a roadmap to hold a credible election.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said registration of political parties aimed at controlling them. He said it is the responsibility of the EC to hold an appropriate election but not to control politics.
He said the Workers Party wants elections without money and muscle powers. It also opposes registration of religion-based political parties.
The meeting held at AL acting President Zillur Rahman's Gulshan house was attended, among others, by acting AL General Secretary Mukul Bose, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Sultan Mansur Ahmad, Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Dipu Moni and Bimal Biswas, Haider Akbar Khan Rono and Kamrul Hassan from the Workers Party.
At the outset of the briefing, Tofail offered to give up his responsibility as coordinator of the 14-party alliance on moral ground since his name has been published as one of the suspected corrupts.
Tofail told reporters that he had been in politics since his student life and served as a minister, there might be mistakes in his long career. He needs to first clear himself from any allegation before taking up the responsibility of coordinator.
Both Zillur Rahman and Rashed Khan Menon insisted that Tofail should continue as coordinator of the 14-party alliance.
Zillur said Tofail is a dedicated and courageous leader and they have full confidence in him. Anybody's name on the list does not mean he or she is an accused, he said, expressing the hope that Tofail would be able to overcome the allegation against him.