Khaleda wants JS poll before local bodies' polls
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Monday proposed to the caretaker government to hold the stalled Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) election first, and set a timeframe for the next elected government to hold the local bodies' polls within a month, reports UNB.
"The national election slated for January 2007 is scheduled to be held in December 2008. It has already been delayed. The national election has become more urgent than the local polls," she told the reporters at a special court where she attended in connection with Niko scam case.
Khaleda, also BNP chairperson, said her party is not opposed to the local bodies' elections. If the government thinks that the local elections under an elected government would not be peaceful, a timeframe for the local polls could be drawn up now, she added.
After the general election, she said, whoever wins would remain busy with the formation of the new government, and they will have no time to get involved in the local polls.
She said since the national election has already been delayed, the prime duty of the incumbent caretaker government is to complete it first.
Pointing her finger at the current dismal situation aggravated by soaring price-hike, Khaleda said common people have become perturbed. Millions of people have newly gone under the poverty line, and middle-income families are also turning into the poor segment.
But the government cannot contain the price spiral, and the OMS programme has been closed, she pointed.
She said Ramadan is coming when the prices would jump again. "Only Allah knows what will happen," she said, adding that the starving people, including the middle class, are crowding at mazars for food.
Khaleda said they have no objection to the enhancement of salaries of the government employees, but what will happen to the remaining vast section of the society is still uncertain.
The former PM said the government must arrange the national election first, and transfer power to the elected government that can salvage the nation from this situation.
"We always want to cooperate with the government
"The national election slated for January 2007 is scheduled to be held in December 2008. It has already been delayed. The national election has become more urgent than the local polls," she told the reporters at a special court where she attended in connection with Niko scam case.
Khaleda, also BNP chairperson, said her party is not opposed to the local bodies' elections. If the government thinks that the local elections under an elected government would not be peaceful, a timeframe for the local polls could be drawn up now, she added.
After the general election, she said, whoever wins would remain busy with the formation of the new government, and they will have no time to get involved in the local polls.
She said since the national election has already been delayed, the prime duty of the incumbent caretaker government is to complete it first.
Pointing her finger at the current dismal situation aggravated by soaring price-hike, Khaleda said common people have become perturbed. Millions of people have newly gone under the poverty line, and middle-income families are also turning into the poor segment.
But the government cannot contain the price spiral, and the OMS programme has been closed, she pointed.
She said Ramadan is coming when the prices would jump again. "Only Allah knows what will happen," she said, adding that the starving people, including the middle class, are crowding at mazars for food.
Khaleda said they have no objection to the enhancement of salaries of the government employees, but what will happen to the remaining vast section of the society is still uncertain.
The former PM said the government must arrange the national election first, and transfer power to the elected government that can salvage the nation from this situation.
"We always want to cooperate with the government