The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of Bangladesh Awami League yesterday demanded release of its President and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, now in a sub-jail in a corruption case and withdrawal of the state of emergency immediately for holding a free and fair election.

They also demanded banning of politics of war criminals and anti-liberation forces and not allowing registration of political parties based on religion and involved with militancy and communalism.

The demand was made as the eight-member Awami League (AL) delegation led by party's Acting President Zillur Rahman held dialogue with the Election Commission on electoral reforms.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda presided over the meeting while Election Commissioners-Brig Gen (Retd) M Shakhawat Hossain and Sohul Hussain-also took part in the discussion.

"We demanded for holding trial of war criminals and anti-liberation forces. They cannot be allowed to contest the elections. The political parties based on religion cannot be registered", Zillur Rahman told reporters after the three-hour long meeting.

In his introductory speech, the acting AL president said the release of party leader (Sheikh Hasina) was essential to hold a free and fair election.

"It is time to withdraw the state of emergency to pave the way for creating a congenial atmosphere to hold the elections in a neutral manner," he added.

Earlier, the AL leaders discussed all the reform proposals one after another and made some suggestions in line with the AL-led 14-party combine's 31-point electoral reform proposals, which was unveiled during the BNP-led four-party alliance government.

"We have accepted most of the proposals made by the Election Commission. We have put some amendments for coordination," said AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed, who read out the party's proposals.

Demanding banning of the war criminals and anti-liberation forces to contest the elections, he told the election commissioners that the task will be easy to do so if the EC and political parties take a decision in this regard.

Justifying the demand, he referred to Article 20 of the Special Powers Act (SPA) that any political party would be banned if its does politics using religion.

On election expenditure for candidates the AL leaders agreed to keep the limit down. "You determine the expenditure practically, we will accept it-be it two or 20 lakh," Tofail Ahmed observed.

The AL delegation proposed providing fund to the political parties to meet their electoral expenses proportionate to the percentage of their acquired votes in the previous elections.

"It will help in reducing election expenses of the political parties and candidates and make them more transparent in this regard," said AL presidium member Suranjit Sengupta.

The leaders proposed using of transparent ballot boxes while the CEC said the commission would consider it if it enhanced the credibility of the EC and elections.

The AL delegation agreed with the EC proposal of not using founder of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's photograph on electoral posters as the commissioners opined that the founder of the nation cannot be any particular political party's property.

They, however, proposed to include it in the Representation of People Order (RPO) so that it becomes a law and is complied with by all.

The AL delegation also favoured relaxation of conditions as much as possible so that more political parties get registrations.

The AL leaders favoured providing judicial power to ensure resolution of the elections related disputes quickly.

The CEC sought all-out cooperation from the Awami League to hold the elections in a free and fair manner in accordance with the roadmap.

He said the present Election Commission is the fruit of the AL's movement and said the nation had great expectations from the party.

In response to the AL demand for using two portraits by the party the CEC said that the photograph of the father of the national cannot be used as the symbol of any party.

Election Commissioner Shakhawat Hossain said that the nation now is passing through a difficult time and sought AL's cooperation to overcome the situation.

"We want to hold a free and fair election as per our roadmap and we seek your cooperation. A situation should not be created for us that may derail the plan. Please try to understand and we want to get over this election," he said.

The members of the delegations also include AL presidium members-Abdur Razzak, Sajeda Chowdhury, Matia Chowdhury, Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser and acting general secretary Ashraf Hossain.