4-party alliance places conditions
Monday, 30 June 2008
The BNP-led four-party alliance at a meeting Sunday remained fuzzy over its position on the planned local body polls slated for August 4, reports UNB.
In the wake of the Awami League's endorsement of the local body polls, the alliance sat in the crucial meeting with an aim to clear its position on the contentious issue, but it ended without depicting any clear picture.
The alliance rather placed some old conditions to apparently put squeezes on the interim government.
The meeting was held at the residence of Jatiya Party (Manzur) chairman Andalib Rahman in the city's Baridhara area.
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in a post-meeting news briefing set a July3-deadline for the government to meet their demands.
He indicated that the alliance may endorse the local polls if their conditions are fulfilled by the deadline.
The conditions are release of all alliance leaders including Khaleda Zia and Matiur Rahman Nizami, overseas treatment for Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, withdrawal of state of emergency and holding national election by October 30.
"Still there is time. We will observe how the government responds," Delwar said.
Replying to a query, he said local level alliance leaders can contest in the local government polls but the concerned party would not take any responsibility.
"If anybody goes against the party decision, action will be taken against him," he said.
Delwar accused the government of striking a deal with the AL.
"The people will not accept such a notion that is designed to exclude others from the election process," he said.
BNP standing committee members Dr RA Gani, Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, and senior leaders Sarwari Rahman, Selima Rahman and Rizvi Ahmed joined the meeting.
Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, assistant secretary generals Kamaruzzamn and Abdul Kader Molla also attended the meeting while Khelafat Majlish president Moulana Ishaq, IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami were also present.
In the wake of the Awami League's endorsement of the local body polls, the alliance sat in the crucial meeting with an aim to clear its position on the contentious issue, but it ended without depicting any clear picture.
The alliance rather placed some old conditions to apparently put squeezes on the interim government.
The meeting was held at the residence of Jatiya Party (Manzur) chairman Andalib Rahman in the city's Baridhara area.
BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain in a post-meeting news briefing set a July3-deadline for the government to meet their demands.
He indicated that the alliance may endorse the local polls if their conditions are fulfilled by the deadline.
The conditions are release of all alliance leaders including Khaleda Zia and Matiur Rahman Nizami, overseas treatment for Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, withdrawal of state of emergency and holding national election by October 30.
"Still there is time. We will observe how the government responds," Delwar said.
Replying to a query, he said local level alliance leaders can contest in the local government polls but the concerned party would not take any responsibility.
"If anybody goes against the party decision, action will be taken against him," he said.
Delwar accused the government of striking a deal with the AL.
"The people will not accept such a notion that is designed to exclude others from the election process," he said.
BNP standing committee members Dr RA Gani, Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, and senior leaders Sarwari Rahman, Selima Rahman and Rizvi Ahmed joined the meeting.
Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, assistant secretary generals Kamaruzzamn and Abdul Kader Molla also attended the meeting while Khelafat Majlish president Moulana Ishaq, IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami were also present.