Delwar remains tuned to opposing local polls
Sunday, 22 June 2008
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain Saturday repeated his party's demand for scrapping the schedule for local-body polls, as he said major political parties are opposed to local elections before the general election, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
The latest plan by the Election Commission for holding polls in four city corporations and nine municipalities on August 4 has sparked protests on the political front, and the BNP-led four-party alliance insists that the commission must cancel the plan.
At a views-exchanging meeting with the BNP activists from Joypurhat at his NAM apartment in the city, Delwar accused the government of sidestepping major political parties, and using "force" to go ahead with the local-government elections.
He also accused the Election Commission of violating the constitution, as he said that the commission has no mandate to hold the local elections under an interim regime.
"Without following laws the government is using force to hold the local-government elections," he told the activists. "This schedule must be scrapped."
"If this forced schedule is not scrapped, and it creates an unwanted situation before the elections, during voting day or afterwards, this government and the Election Commission will stand responsible," he said.
He argued that people would not join this election since all major political forces, including the four-party alliance and the Awami League-led 14-party coalition, have "rejected" the schedule.
He said the government was going ahead with a plan to make politicians disqualified for the election by holding what he called "farcical trial."
The BNP leader asked the party activists to remain vigilant against all conspiracies, and said that the government is trying to hang on to power.
He alleged that the government is too much enthusiast to send detained BNP Chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia abroad by making Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko "hostage."
"I ask this government to stop all conspiracies. It's the demand of the people," he said.
The latest plan by the Election Commission for holding polls in four city corporations and nine municipalities on August 4 has sparked protests on the political front, and the BNP-led four-party alliance insists that the commission must cancel the plan.
At a views-exchanging meeting with the BNP activists from Joypurhat at his NAM apartment in the city, Delwar accused the government of sidestepping major political parties, and using "force" to go ahead with the local-government elections.
He also accused the Election Commission of violating the constitution, as he said that the commission has no mandate to hold the local elections under an interim regime.
"Without following laws the government is using force to hold the local-government elections," he told the activists. "This schedule must be scrapped."
"If this forced schedule is not scrapped, and it creates an unwanted situation before the elections, during voting day or afterwards, this government and the Election Commission will stand responsible," he said.
He argued that people would not join this election since all major political forces, including the four-party alliance and the Awami League-led 14-party coalition, have "rejected" the schedule.
He said the government was going ahead with a plan to make politicians disqualified for the election by holding what he called "farcical trial."
The BNP leader asked the party activists to remain vigilant against all conspiracies, and said that the government is trying to hang on to power.
He alleged that the government is too much enthusiast to send detained BNP Chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia abroad by making Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko "hostage."
"I ask this government to stop all conspiracies. It's the demand of the people," he said.