Former lawmakers of BNP, AL, JP urge govt to hold elections quickly
Monday, 24 March 2008
Former members of parliament (MPs) of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Party (JP) urged the government to hold the stalled elections to parliament as early as possible to establish an elected government in the country, reports UNB.
Addressing a press conference at Manik Mia Avenue's NAM Bhaban in the city Sunday, they demanded immediate release of ex-Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
They said if open trial of the two leaders could be held, it would be clear to the people whether or not they are guilty.
Former MPs from the three major parties attended the press conference mainly to ventilate their grievances over the Public Works Ministry's notice to pay for the NAM apartments they are now living in or vacate them.
They vowed to fight legal battle against the notice.
Some 423 ex-lawmakers have been residing in the apartments at Manik Mia Avenue and Nakhalpara, paying service charges as per parliamentary act.
Former AL lawmaker Shajahan Khan said they are eligible to live in the apartments until the next parliamentary elections are held.
"We can stay there even for three months after the next elections, but we don't want to do that. We're ready to leave the apartments as soon as new representatives will be elected", he said.
NAM apartments were constructed during the AL government (1996-2001) to accommodate the delegates of NAM Summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka. But, the next BNP-led alliance government regretted to hold the summit. Later on, the apartments were allocated among the MPs of the previous parliament.
Recently, the works ministry issued letters to the ex-lawmakers asking them either to pay rents fixed by the government or vacate the apartments by March 19 this year.
A written statement read out by the AL lawmaker said parliament was the life-blood of a nation and MPs were directly elected by the people. Parliament was the focal point for running the affairs of the state. Therefore, it was the responsibility of all to protect the honour of parliament members.
"Despite differences in our political ideology and opinion, we are united and pledge-bound to uphold the prestige and protect the property of parliament", the statement said.
Asked whether the former MPs will stand in unity during the prevailing situation, Shajahan Khan of AL, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi of BNP and Majibur Rahman of JP said not only on the issue of NAM apartments, they are ready to work together on any national issue in future.
Shajahan Khan and Mahbubur Rahman of AL, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, Selim Reza Habib, Abdul Momin Talukdar, Abu Yusuf Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, Nurul Kabir Shaheen, Abdul Mannan Talukdar, Prof Yunus, Helen Jerin Khan, Jahan Panna, Rezina Islam, Shahana Rahman, Nurjahan Yasmin, Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Rasheda Begum Hira, Saimon Begum, Khodeja Imdad Lata, Chamon Ara, Fahima Hossain Jublee and Newaz Halima Arly of BNP and Majibur Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Lily Chowdhury of JP were present at the joint press conference.
Addressing a press conference at Manik Mia Avenue's NAM Bhaban in the city Sunday, they demanded immediate release of ex-Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
They said if open trial of the two leaders could be held, it would be clear to the people whether or not they are guilty.
Former MPs from the three major parties attended the press conference mainly to ventilate their grievances over the Public Works Ministry's notice to pay for the NAM apartments they are now living in or vacate them.
They vowed to fight legal battle against the notice.
Some 423 ex-lawmakers have been residing in the apartments at Manik Mia Avenue and Nakhalpara, paying service charges as per parliamentary act.
Former AL lawmaker Shajahan Khan said they are eligible to live in the apartments until the next parliamentary elections are held.
"We can stay there even for three months after the next elections, but we don't want to do that. We're ready to leave the apartments as soon as new representatives will be elected", he said.
NAM apartments were constructed during the AL government (1996-2001) to accommodate the delegates of NAM Summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka. But, the next BNP-led alliance government regretted to hold the summit. Later on, the apartments were allocated among the MPs of the previous parliament.
Recently, the works ministry issued letters to the ex-lawmakers asking them either to pay rents fixed by the government or vacate the apartments by March 19 this year.
A written statement read out by the AL lawmaker said parliament was the life-blood of a nation and MPs were directly elected by the people. Parliament was the focal point for running the affairs of the state. Therefore, it was the responsibility of all to protect the honour of parliament members.
"Despite differences in our political ideology and opinion, we are united and pledge-bound to uphold the prestige and protect the property of parliament", the statement said.
Asked whether the former MPs will stand in unity during the prevailing situation, Shajahan Khan of AL, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi of BNP and Majibur Rahman of JP said not only on the issue of NAM apartments, they are ready to work together on any national issue in future.
Shajahan Khan and Mahbubur Rahman of AL, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, Selim Reza Habib, Abdul Momin Talukdar, Abu Yusuf Mohammad Khalilur Rahman, Nurul Kabir Shaheen, Abdul Mannan Talukdar, Prof Yunus, Helen Jerin Khan, Jahan Panna, Rezina Islam, Shahana Rahman, Nurjahan Yasmin, Bilkis Jahan Shirin, Rasheda Begum Hira, Saimon Begum, Khodeja Imdad Lata, Chamon Ara, Fahima Hossain Jublee and Newaz Halima Arly of BNP and Majibur Rahman, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Lily Chowdhury of JP were present at the joint press conference.