The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Liberal Democratic party (LDP) president Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram yesterday urged the Government to announce specific poll date within October 2008 and hold the national and local government elections on the same date.

"No more time killing, hold elections within October and declare specific poll date," said Col Oli, "We did not formulate the caretaker government system to hold local government elections but for the parliament elections. If it is necessary then both the elections could be held on the same date."

He was speaking at a discussion meeting of the Ganotantrik Mahila Dal, women's wing of the party at its head office at Maghbazar in the city. The meeting was presided over by Secretary General of the Party Prof Jahanara Begum.

He said the government should relax the provisions of the state of emergency relating to politics and make political parties and people election oriented.

The LDP president urged the government to let the elected government to guide the country into the right path and control price hike and solve other problems.

Col Oli said, "Restricted democracy would take the country to a catastrophic situation."

He also urged the political parties not to avoid elections for the sake of one or two persons. "The whole country should not suffer for one or two persons. There is no alternative to elections at this moment," he said.

The LDP chief urged the government to continue and strengthen their anti corruption drive and said, "We were vocal against corruption right from the start but now some newly formed parties are claiming the credit."

He said his party would not form alliance with the parties rejected by the people. He voted against any law, which contradicted the Holy Quran.

Prof Jahanara Begum, presidium member Abdul Karim Abbasi, vice president Dr Nazimuddin Ahmed and joint secretary general Shahadat Hossain Selim, among others, spoke on the occasion.