No bar in holding local govt polls: Dr Kamal
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, an eminent jurist, said Friday the local government elections could be held before the national elections as there is no legal and constitutional bar, reports UNB.
"Constitutionally and legally, there is no such bar," he said at a press briefing at his Bailey Road residence after a bilateral dialogue with the leaders of Gonotontri Party.
Dr Kamal, however, said the government would take a decision about the issue of local government elections after dialogues with the country's political parties.
Asked about the election under emergency, he said the state of emergency must be withdrawn when the elections would be held in the country. "The election, of course, will have to be held in normal situation," he added.
The government should take the decision about withdrawing the emergency after discussions with the political parties, he added.
The Gono Forum president stressed the need for national unity to face the national challenges, saying that encouraged by the event of March 7 in 1971, the whole nation faced the national crisis in the days of liberation war.
Dr Kamal said the present caretaker government should hold the national election according to their declared roadmap. It would be better if the election could be arranged before the timeframe.
Gonotontri Party President Nurul Islam urged the government to withdraw the state of emergency as early as possible and to allow indoor politics across the country. "Indoor politics is a must before the national election," he said.
He also demanded of the government to arrange immediate trial for the war criminals and to ban religion-based politics in the country.
"Constitutionally and legally, there is no such bar," he said at a press briefing at his Bailey Road residence after a bilateral dialogue with the leaders of Gonotontri Party.
Dr Kamal, however, said the government would take a decision about the issue of local government elections after dialogues with the country's political parties.
Asked about the election under emergency, he said the state of emergency must be withdrawn when the elections would be held in the country. "The election, of course, will have to be held in normal situation," he added.
The government should take the decision about withdrawing the emergency after discussions with the political parties, he added.
The Gono Forum president stressed the need for national unity to face the national challenges, saying that encouraged by the event of March 7 in 1971, the whole nation faced the national crisis in the days of liberation war.
Dr Kamal said the present caretaker government should hold the national election according to their declared roadmap. It would be better if the election could be arranged before the timeframe.
Gonotontri Party President Nurul Islam urged the government to withdraw the state of emergency as early as possible and to allow indoor politics across the country. "Indoor politics is a must before the national election," he said.
He also demanded of the government to arrange immediate trial for the war criminals and to ban religion-based politics in the country.