Timely polls now a certainty, says Tofail
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Bangladesh Awami League (AL) presidium member Tofail Ahmed has welcomed the Election Commission's assurance that the schedule for national elections will be announced on November 2, saying timely polls are now certain, reports bdnews24.com.
"The decision has removed all doubts over holding the national elections slated for Dec 18," Tofail Ahmed told the journalists Saturday after a meeting of the 14-party alliance at the party office in the city Friday.
The EC had said earlier in the day that it would announce the schedules for both national and upazila polls on November 2, but the AL leader made no mention of the latter.
The party has been opposed to the upazila polls being held under the tenure of the caretaker government.
"We hope the government will press forward for a fair election by implementing the issues we have discussed in the talks," Tofail said.
Asked about the agenda of Saturday's alliance meeting, he said: "We discussed how we can keep the alliance united."
Tofail was hopeful of creating a larger electoral alliance prior to the Jatiya Sangsad elections. "The greater alliance will be formed with progressive and democratic forces."
He showed annoyance when asked whether party chief Sheikh Hasina would be able to participate in the elections.
"The decision has removed all doubts over holding the national elections slated for Dec 18," Tofail Ahmed told the journalists Saturday after a meeting of the 14-party alliance at the party office in the city Friday.
The EC had said earlier in the day that it would announce the schedules for both national and upazila polls on November 2, but the AL leader made no mention of the latter.
The party has been opposed to the upazila polls being held under the tenure of the caretaker government.
"We hope the government will press forward for a fair election by implementing the issues we have discussed in the talks," Tofail said.
Asked about the agenda of Saturday's alliance meeting, he said: "We discussed how we can keep the alliance united."
Tofail was hopeful of creating a larger electoral alliance prior to the Jatiya Sangsad elections. "The greater alliance will be formed with progressive and democratic forces."
He showed annoyance when asked whether party chief Sheikh Hasina would be able to participate in the elections.