The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League and the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) yesterday jointly demanded parliamentary election schedule immediately and asked for holding the polls as per announced electoral roadmap.

Talking to newsmen after their meeting, AL leader Tofail Ahmed and CPB leader Mujahidul Islam Selim observed that doubt has been created in people's mind about holding election in time and declaration of election schedule could remove this uncertainty. They held their bilateral meeting at acting AL president Zillur Rahman's Gulshan residence on the prevailing political circumstances. Zillur presided over the meeting. The leaders of the two parties also demanded withdrawal of the state of emergency ahead of the parliamentary polls as well as trial of the "fundamentalists and war criminals".

Tofael said holding parliamentary election is the main responsibility of the caretaker government according to the country's Constitution and so the government should take initiative to hold the national elections.

"Uncertainty has been created among the people over holding election according to the announced roadmap, so the government should announce the election schedule forthwith to remove the hesitation," he said. The AL leader said the government should not do anything that may delay the electoral process. He demanded the lifting of the state of emergency to restore people's fundamental rights.

Expressing concern over the present physical condition of detained AL president Sheikh Hasina, Tofael said government should act according to the physicians' recommendations. "If the doctors suggested sending her abroad, then she must be sent for proper medicare." Talking to the reporters, CPB general secretary Selim said they discussed current political scenario of the country and reached consensus on some issues. AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq, Suranjit Sengupta, Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafarullah and Syed Ashraful Islam and CPB leaders Manjurul Ahsan Khan, MM Akash and Shahidullah Chowdhury, among others, were present at the meeting.