AL demands lifting of emergency
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Awami League central working committee Friday spelt out some demands, including lifting of the state of emergency and allowing candidates to contest parliamentary elections, after payment of their default bank loans and bills, reports UNB.
The working committee at a meeting with its president Sheikh Hasina in the chair also demanded deferment of dates for uapzila elections to a logical time after the general election and allowing party leaders convicted by trial courts to appeal to higher courts.
The meeting that lasted for more than three hours until 8.45pm urged the Election Commission to make available to candidates the copies of the voter list with photos.
It also asked the government to allow the arrested party leaders either to operate their bank accounts or allow them to open new ones.
Acting General Secretary of the party Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters that the meeting extended the date for submitting nomination forms till today (Saturday) evening. So far 2,500 nomination forms have been collected by the party's intending candidates.
The meeting decided that if any committee of the party was dissolved after the start of indoor politics under the emergency it would be reinstated.
The meeting observed that Sheikh Hasina's return home was one step forward towards the December 18 elections. Ashraful, however, said a fair election cannot be held under the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, an earlier news says: US Ambassador James Moriarty Friday met Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina and expressed the hope that a free, fair and inclusive election would be held in Bangladesh on December 18.
"I think there'll be a good election in Bangladesh with the participation of all parties and the results will be acceptable to everybody in this country," he told reporters after one-and-a-half-hour meeting at Sudha Sadan.
Asked about the credibility of the election if BNP stayed away from it, the ambassador said the BNP should resolve their problems through discussions with the government to allow them to participate in the polls.
Moriarty expressed the hope that Bangladesh would have free and fair elections as held recently in the USA.
About dialogue between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, he said let them speak for themselves for free and fair elections.
Asked if the December 18 election was deferred, the US envoy expressed his worry and said once the election was postponed when it would be held!
He further expressed the hope that the atmosphere for free and fair elections should be in place so that all parties could participate in the polls.
AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Sheikh Hasina told the ambassador that they were ready to take part in the elections on December 18 and taking preparations for that.
He said Awami League parliamentary board would finalise the party's candidates after receiving suggestions about the nominees from the party's local committees by November 9.
He demanded full lifting of the state of emergency to ensure fair voting.
On doubt about BNP's participation, Ashraful said they knew BNP was also taking preparations and would take part in the elections.
About BNP's allegation of entente between Awami League and caretaker government, he said how one could say that when party chief Sheikh Hasina had been in jail for one year and many leaders were still in jail.
The working committee at a meeting with its president Sheikh Hasina in the chair also demanded deferment of dates for uapzila elections to a logical time after the general election and allowing party leaders convicted by trial courts to appeal to higher courts.
The meeting that lasted for more than three hours until 8.45pm urged the Election Commission to make available to candidates the copies of the voter list with photos.
It also asked the government to allow the arrested party leaders either to operate their bank accounts or allow them to open new ones.
Acting General Secretary of the party Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters that the meeting extended the date for submitting nomination forms till today (Saturday) evening. So far 2,500 nomination forms have been collected by the party's intending candidates.
The meeting decided that if any committee of the party was dissolved after the start of indoor politics under the emergency it would be reinstated.
The meeting observed that Sheikh Hasina's return home was one step forward towards the December 18 elections. Ashraful, however, said a fair election cannot be held under the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, an earlier news says: US Ambassador James Moriarty Friday met Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina and expressed the hope that a free, fair and inclusive election would be held in Bangladesh on December 18.
"I think there'll be a good election in Bangladesh with the participation of all parties and the results will be acceptable to everybody in this country," he told reporters after one-and-a-half-hour meeting at Sudha Sadan.
Asked about the credibility of the election if BNP stayed away from it, the ambassador said the BNP should resolve their problems through discussions with the government to allow them to participate in the polls.
Moriarty expressed the hope that Bangladesh would have free and fair elections as held recently in the USA.
About dialogue between Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, he said let them speak for themselves for free and fair elections.
Asked if the December 18 election was deferred, the US envoy expressed his worry and said once the election was postponed when it would be held!
He further expressed the hope that the atmosphere for free and fair elections should be in place so that all parties could participate in the polls.
AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Sheikh Hasina told the ambassador that they were ready to take part in the elections on December 18 and taking preparations for that.
He said Awami League parliamentary board would finalise the party's candidates after receiving suggestions about the nominees from the party's local committees by November 9.
He demanded full lifting of the state of emergency to ensure fair voting.
On doubt about BNP's participation, Ashraful said they knew BNP was also taking preparations and would take part in the elections.
About BNP's allegation of entente between Awami League and caretaker government, he said how one could say that when party chief Sheikh Hasina had been in jail for one year and many leaders were still in jail.