The New Nation - Internet Edition

EC invites BNP factions for dialogue separately today

Shahidul Islam

The Election Commission yesterday invited both the rival factions of the BNP to sit today with it separately for the much-awaited talks on the electoral reforms, Commission officials said.

When contacted last evening, leaders of both the reformist and anti-reform groups of the immediate-past ruling party confirmed the development.

Meanwhile, the Government has intensified its preparations for holding the formal political dialogue with the political parties soon amid pre-conditions set by some major parties, including the Awami League (AL) and anti-reform BNP faction led by Khandaker Delwar Hossain.

The AL and the BNP, who together ruled the nation for over 25 years of its 37 years post-liberation history and successfully maneouvered the Caretaker Government to accept their terms to start the political dialogue, formally or otherwise, without any official conditionality were now setting tough pre-conditions, assuming that the administration would bow down to their pressure, as it was now facing mass resentment due to abnormal price hike of essentials-particularly of food stuff.

Main among the pre-conditions set by the AL and the anti-reform faction of the BNP includes the release of their detained party chiefs Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia respectively, who are now facing trial on separate corruption charges, and specific dates for the stalled general elections and the withdrawal of the state of emergency.

It may be mentioned here that the AL took part at least three post-liberation national elections (Presidential polls in 1978 and parliamentary elections in 1979 and 1986) under martial law, while the BNP was founded by a Chief Martial law Administrator (Gen Ziaur Rahman) during his rule amalgamating some political parties having contradictory ideological positions. The BNP won the elections to the Presidency of the Republic (1978) and Parliament (1978)

defeating the AL. The Jatiya Party formed by the other Chief Martial Law Administrator (Gen Ershad) had outweighed the AL in 1986 general elections.

BNP (anti-reform) Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam separately demanded of the Government to bring BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina, both of whom alternated as the Prime Ministers of the country during the last 16 years of elected political rule since the restoration of multi-party Parliamentary form of Democracy through the 1991 general elections, the first parliamentary polls held under a non-party neutral Caretaker Government, to the political dialogue after releasing them in order to ensure the success of the formal talks between the Government and the political parties.

Reiterating his party's demand, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman, who is one of the panel lawyers for Sheikh Hasina, yesterday told a party function that a free, fair and credible election was not possible without the participation of his party supremo. However, he would not say as to how the Government would release Sheikh Hasina, who is now an under trial prisoner and her freedom rests on the Court law.

In the meantime, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday told journalists that the Government would be able to begin the formal political dialogue, which was delayed due to lawsuit filed by Begum Zia challenging the Election Commission's (EC's) letter of invitation to the leaders of the reformist faction, by this month (April) after completion of the ongoing pre-dialogues.

Echoing the same view, Commerce and Education Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, who is maintaining liaison with the political leaders on behalf of the Government, said they would try to bring all the political parties, including the anti-reform faction of the BNP to the dialogue table.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, after a meeting of the senior leaders of his faction of the BNP at his residence at the NAM Building, told journalists last night that they would join the talks with the EC today under the leadership of party Standing Committee member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiki.

Former BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the top reformist leader and now a Standing Committee member, told journalists after a meeting with M Saifur Rahman in the chair at the latter's Gulshan residence that they would join the talks with a renewed hope to bring about reforms in the electoral system and political parties with a view to establish an accountable democracy that would lead nation to unhindered development and prosperity.

Urging the leaders of the rival faction of the party top refrain from spreading venom, he said, "The unity of the BNP is now only a matter of time."

The anti-reform BNP would sit with the EC at 12:00 noon while the reformists at 4:00pm today at its Secretariat.

Terming as an important political development of this country, a senior diplomat of an influential western country expressed the hope that the ensuing formal dialogue between the Government and the political parties would be successful for the greater interest of this nation.

18 killed as train rams into bus in Tangail

Onlookers gather around the site of the train-bus
accident that took the lives of 18 and injured 30 others at
Rajbari in Tangail. FocusBangla

Tangail Correspondent

At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured when a train rammed into a packed bus at the Rajbari railway crossing under Kalihati upazila in Tangail, about 20 kilometers from the district town, in the early hours of yesterday,

Eye witnesses and officials They said the Dhaka-bound Ekota Express from Dinajpur hit the passenger bus at Balla in Kalihati upazila at about 3:00am, killing 16 people on the spot and injuring 32 others.

The injured were admitted to Tangail General Hospital where two of them died and five others with critical injuries were sent to Dhaka for treatment, a police official said.

The police quoting survivors said all the 50 passengers of the bus were local weavers who were on their way to join a weekly rural haat (weekly marketplace) from Balla to Korotia.

Witnesses said the railway crossing was kept open when the intercity train coming from northwestern Dinajpur to Dhaka rammed into the bus and turned it into a wreckage.

''Senior railway officials rushed to the scene immediately after the accident and an investigation has already been ordered,'' Bangladesh Railway spokesman Shafiqul Islam said.

Islam said the gateman of the railway crossing Habibur Rahman was suspended and seven-member committee was constituted to find the reasons for the accident.

However, the railway officials confirmed the death of 17 people and the number of injured persons at 20.

The train reportedly collided with a crowded bus at an unmanned railway crossing in Tangail district, 80km (50 miles) north of the capital, Dhaka.

Officials said all of the victims were passengers the bus. Three of the injured are reported to be in a critical condition.

There was no major damage to the train, a railway official said.

The dead were identified as Saiful Islam,45, of village Momin Nagar, Farooq Hossain,26, Ahad Hossain, 35, Ahmed Ali, 42, Dudu Miah,35, of Rampur village, Solaiman,35, Serajul Islam,35, Safi,32, Dulal Hossain,38, Faruk Hossain ,33, Monir Hossain,35, Sujat Ali,50, Alal Uddin ,32, of village Mali Para, Golam Hossain ,20, driver of the bus Abdus Samad,45, Al-Amin,20, Korban Ali,25,of village Chatutia and Fazlul Haque,45. All of them hailed from Kalihati upazila of the district.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Akter Ali Sarker, Police Super Abdul Mannan and Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kalihati Saifullah Hil Azam visited the spot.

ACC to seize Khoka’s bank files

Sadek Hossain Khoka

UNB, Dhaka

As part of investigation into the graft case filed against Dhaka City mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, his wife and two children, the Anti-Corruption Commission will soon seize the files and documents relating to income tax and bank accounts.

ACC assistant director Samsul Alam, also the investigation officer, has already written to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the managers of the concerned banks for keeping the files and documents ready for the investigation team to seize those, sources at the Commission said.

On April 2, the anti-graft watchdog filed a case with Ramna police station against Khoka, his wife Ismat Ara, son Ishraque Hossain and daughter Sarika Sadek for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 17.58 crore beyond their known sources of income and concealment of information of assets worth about 10 crore.

The investigation officer has written to the concerned officer of the NBR asking him to make the related income tax files and documents of the accused available.

Letters have already been sent to the managers of Agrani Bank, Hatkhola branch, Standard Chartered Bank, Motijheel branch, Standard Chartered Bank, principal branch, Rupali Bank, Foreign Exchange branch, HSBC Bank, Motijheel branch, Uttara Bank, local office, Habib Bank, Motijheel branch, Pubali Bank, principal branch, Janata Bank, corporate branch, Janata Bank, Nagar Bhaban branch, NCC Bank, principal branch, Brack Bank, Motijheel branch, Premier Bank, Uttara branch and Janata Bank, WASA corporate branch.

According to the sources, the account opening forms and statements of the accused will be seized from the banks. The files and documents will be seized next week, they added.

The sources also said the investigation officer would write next week to the offices of the sub-registrars for the seizure of land-related files and documents of the accused.

Formal talks with political parties to start this month

Staff Reporter

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury yesterday said the government would start formal dialogue with the political parties by this month after completion of the ongoing pre-dialogue for holding a meaningful election in the country.

"We are hopeful to start formal dialogue with the political parties this month with a view to holding a free, fair and transparent election and establishing a healthy politics in the country" he said while launching a daylong workshop on " Reforms Measures Undertaken by the Caretaker Government: How to Sustain them in the Post Election Scenario". It was organised by Bangladesh Heritage Foundation (BHF) at a city hotel.

"The primary goal of the caretaker government as per the constitutional obligation is to hold a free, fair an credible election before the end of December 2008," he said adding that that the responses from the concerned political circles have been positive.

Justice Mustafa Kamal, former Chief Justice and Chairman of the Law Commission chaired the event.

Professor Ataur Rahman of Political Science Department of Dhaka University and Mohammad Aminul Karim separately presented keynote papers while Manzoor Hasan, Director and Niloy Ranjan Biswas and Asif Mohamaad Shahan, Research Assistants, Institute of Governance Studies of BRAC University jointly presented another keynote paper.

Wali-ur-Rahman, chairman of BHF, and some high government officials and members of the civil society also attended the workshop.

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who also in charge of the ministries of Expatriates Welfare and Labour Employment said " We are holding preliminary dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders with open minds and preparation for open agenda is already underway in an effort to create a congenial atmosphere for the holding of free, fair and credible elections and establishing a sustainable and healthy democracy in the long run,".

Listing the reforms taken by the government he said reforms in the Public Service Commission, separation of the Judiciary from the executives and establishment of Human Rights Commission and dirve against corruption by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) are the major achievements, which have been universally welcomed within and outside the country.

"Reform is not an event rather than a continuous process," he said and hoped that the next elected government would carry out reform initiated by the present caretaker government.

"It is our duty to create a healthy political trend in the country" he said and mentioned that the government has introduced institutional changes to infuse positive values in the society.

Justice Mustafa Kamal called upon all to cooperate with the government so the national election would be held as per the road map of the Election Commission could be held.

Asked whether the election would be possible by keeping Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in prison the BHF president Ambassador Wali-ur-Rahman replied in the affirmative.

Mujibnagar Day today

UNB, Dhaka

The nation will celebrate the historic Mujibnagar Day today commemorating the formation of Bangladesh's first government in exile at Baidyanathtola mango grove in Meherpur on this day in 1971.

The place was later renamed Mujibnagar in tribute to the country's independence hero, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was declared president and supreme commander of the armed forces at the time.

Syed Nazrul Islam was made acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu, who had been arrested by the Pakistani occupation forces on March 25, 1971.

Installation of the government began with a guard of honour led by a contingent of police. Syed Nazrul Islam took the salute and hoisted the national flag.

The Mujibnagar government with Tajuddin Ahmed as the prime minister led the country's nine-month liberation war that ended with the surrender of the occupation forces on December 16. Awami League has taken up programmes marking the historic day.

Party presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq and Suranjit Sengupta will visit Mujibnagar to join several programmes there. In Dhaka, the national and party flags will be hoisted at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi and also at the AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at 6:00am.

Party leaders will place a wreath at the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban at 8:00am. They will also pay tribute at the graves of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and others at Banani graveyard.

Potato can be supplementary not alternative to rice: Moeen

Staff Reporter

Speakers at an inaugural ceremony of a week-long potato festival in the city yesterday said people should consume more potato with their daily meals as a supplementary to rice to encourage the farmers to grow more potato.

Agriculture Adviser Dr Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim and Chief of Army Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed were present at the week-long festival as chief guest and special guest respectively. The Radisson Water Garden Hotel organised the potato festival from yesterday.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed said potato could be the supplementary to rice in our daily life. "Potato is not an alternative to rice. It will be supplementary to rice for the next two months to consume the additional production of potato. Besides, the surplus potato will be destroyed," he said.

He advised people that they should take more potato at their breakfast to help the farmers.

Moeen U Ahmed informed that the farmers have produced 80 lakh tons of potato this year which was 50 lakh tons last year.

"This country is ours. If we will consume more potato, the farmers would be encouraged to produce more potato," he hoped.

Agriculture Adviser CS Karim said, "We will encourage our farmers to produce more potato next year, if we start consuming more potato as supplementary or main diet with rice."

"It is difficult to shift our eating habit to potato because the countryside people are still dependent on rice."

"We have committed to the farmers to help them. For this reason, we have provided Tk 250 crore for the first time as diesel subsidy to the farmers for Boro production from Pahela Baishakh," the Agriculture Adviser said, adding: "Our farmers have produced eight million tons of potato against the cold storage capacity of only 2.2 million tons in the country."

"We will change our farmers luck by taking more potatoes in our daily meals for next three months. Besides, the bumper production of potato will be destroyed due to shortage of cold storage. The farmers would face loss and be discouraged to grow more potato," he said.

He informed that the Government was trying to export 10,000 tons of potato to Singapore.

"We have been facing tremendous pressure due to climate change. If we had more money, we would not have bought foodgrains from any country. So, we have to help the farmers to produce more foodgrains," Dr Karim said.

The Agriculture Adviser said that the Government is encouraging the businessmen to establish potato-based industries to consume the additional production of potato in the country.

He further said the Government has fixed the price of rice at Tk 28 and paddy of Tk 18 per kilogram for procurement from the farmers directly.

"We fixed the price to express our gratitude to the farmers. The farmers will get benefit from the fixation of price of rice and paddy this year," he said, adding: "the farmers will get more profit than last year as rice was sold at Tk 18 last year.

Andre Alex Gomez, General Manager of Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka addressed the programme, among others.

Later, Dr CS Karim and Gen Moeen U Ahmed formally inaugurated the weeklong potato festival where over 140 items of potato are on display till April 22 at Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka.

Govt to procure 15 lakh tons rice, paddy

BSS, Dhaka

The Government will procure 12 lakh metric tons of rice and three lakh metric tons of paddy at the rate of Taka 28 and Taka 18 per kg respectively in the current IRRI-Boro season.

The amount of procurement may be increased further to ensure the country's food security, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Molla Waheduzzaman said on Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference in the meeting room of the Food and Disaster Management Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat. Director General of Department of Food Pius Kosta was present.

The secretary said the target for procurement of rice and paddy was fixed at a meeting on Tuesday to place it before the council of advisers.

He said the prices of rice and paddy have been fixed considering the production costs in the current year. The production costs of rice and paddy were Taka 19.23 and Taka 13.19 per kg respectively.

The government is giving 40 per cent profit on the production cost to encourage the farmers, he said and added the rate of profit in the last year was 15 per cent.

The food secretary said the total capacity of government godowns is 15.50 lakh to 16 lakh metric tons. So, there will be no problem for preservation of rice.

He said a total of 1.75 crore metric tons of rice would be produced in the country in the IRRI-Boro season.

Molla Waheduzzaman said the demand for foodgrain in the country at present is 2.60 crore metric tons.

The foodgrain produced in IRRI-Boro season meets 55 per cent of the total demand, he added.

No hike in tax rates: Next budget to target 6.5 pc GDP growth

UNB, Dhaka

Finance Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said the national budget for the next fiscal year would be prepared targeting a GDP growth of 6.5 percent.

"The revenue expenditure and the ADP (Annual Development Programme) will be fixed proportionately with the GDP target," he told Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at a pre-budget meeting at NEC conference room.

BEA president Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed led the association to the meeting and expressed concern over the lack of balanced distribution of the economic growth, widening disparity between the rich and poor and deepening poverty.

They also raised questions about the impact and quality of expenditures, and development objectives, stressed the need for developing SMEs sector, creating employment opportunities, widening safety-net programmes and pursuing homegrown development programmes.

The Finance Adviser said he was expecting a GDP growth at a range between 6.1 and 6.2 percent during the current

fiscal year, revising up his earlier projection as the major economic indicators picked up recently and on the basis of a brighter prospect for a bumper boro production.

"It's not bad in the context of regional and global growth projections," he said adding, "It's not a drastic fall from the last year's achievement (6.5 percent)."

Referring to Bangladesh's GDP estimates by international institutions, he said their estimates are based on previous indicators, but the indicators picked up recently.

The Adviser said the ADP size would be determined considering revenue collection and likelihood of foreign aid, as he has no intention to raise the tax rates in the coming budget. "In few cases, the tax rate will be reduced despite the lowest tax-GDP ratio."

He hoped to see an increased revenue collection in the next fiscal through administrative reforms and widening the tax base.

Dr Aziz expected that the revenue collection this fiscal year would exceed the target for the first time as the July-February collections grew by 23 percent from the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

On rationalisation of input and output taxes, he said it has become difficult to match the tax rates as some quarters demand withdrawal of taxes while some others demand imposing tax to protect domestic production. "We'll prepare the budget considering all the aspects."

The Finance Adviser said the budget priorities would remain the same as in the last budget that included agriculture and agriculture related sectors, infrastructure, mainly of the power and transportation, human resources development comprised of health and education.

Experts' committee meet on Women Dev Policy held

BSS, Dhaka

A meeting of the committee of expert Alems yesterday reviewed the Women Development Policy-2008 and finalised draft recommendations on it, says a release of the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh.

Acting Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Mohammad Nuruddin presided over the meeting held at the foundation.

The recommendations will be finalised on Wednesday night and submitted to Adviser for Religious Affairs, Land and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs AF Hassan Ariff today.

The following members of the committee attended the meeting. The participants were secretary general of the Jatiya Sharia Council Mufti Saeed Ahmad AL Mujaddedi, principal of Tamirul Millat Madrasa Maulana Mohammad Zainul Abdin, Mufti Maulana Shamsuddin Zia of Patiya Madrasa, Chittagong, Mufti Maulana Faizullah of Lalbagh Madrasa, Mohtamim of Mohammad Jameya Rahmania Madrasa Maulana Mahfuzul Haq, organizational secretary of Jatiya Imam Samity Maulana Osman Gani, Muft Maulana Kifayatullah of Chittagong Hathazari Madrasa, Mufti Maulana Abdul Basit of Sylhet Dargah Madrasa, principal of Barisal Mahmudia Madrasa Maulna Obaidur Rahman Mahbub, Principal Khulna Alia Madrasa Maulna Mohammad Saleh, Mufti Enamul Huq Kasemi and Mufti Mizanur Rahman Saeed of Basundhara Islamic Research Centre, Khatib of Rajshahi Saheb Bazar Jame Masjid Maulna Abdul Ghani, teacher of Bogra Jamil Madrasa Maulana Mohamamd Abdus Sabur, Muhaddis of Feni Sultania Madrasa Mufti Saeed Ahmed, Mufti Mohammad Abdullah of Islamic Foundation, Muhaddis of Islamic Foundation Mufti Waliur Rahman Khan, Mufassir of Islamic Foundation Maulna Abu Saleh Patwary and publication officer of Islamic Foundation Maulana Mohammad Musa.

Subsidy in agri sector to solve food crisis urged

Staff Reporter

Increased subsidy in the agricultural sector will solve food crisis and ensure food security, according to political leaders at a roundtable held in the capital yesterday.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) arranged the roundtable on "food crisis and food security" at its main office.

Presided over by JSD Chairman Hasanul Haque Inu, the discussion was attended by Awami League (AL) leader Tofael Ahmed, Organising Secretary of central committee of AL Abdul Mannan, and secretary of Sammobadi Dal Dilip Barua, among others.

To ensure future food security JSD proposed to Government for the to introduction of rationing system, supply of essential ingredients including fertiliser, diesel and electricity to farmers before Aman season and reduction of interest on bank loan and LC margin to facilitate import of food.

AL leader Tofael said, "the country would not have faced food crisis had the government imported food soon after the flood". Since the godown in the country could store only 26 lakh tonnes of potato against our total production of 75 lakh tonnes, the Government could buy all the excess quantity of potato from farmers to encourage them to cultivate it on a wide scale.

Secretary of Sammobadi Dal, Dilip Barua said, "production in the agriculture sector is closely linked with land administration system and change in this system will greatly help increase food production, he noted.

Call to enact consumer protection law

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a consultation yesterday demanded a transparent and accountable remittance system. And urged the money transfer agencies to lower the fees and establish fair exchange rates.

They called upon the government to frame a consumer protection law for remittance transfer that would ensure that remitter is adequately informed about the fees, the exchange rate and transfer time.

They urged the money transfer companies to initiate and support projects that directly benefit migrants and members of their families.

Their observation came at a consultation on " Remittances and Corporate Social Responsibility of Money Transfer Institutions" at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Tuesday organised by WARBE Development Foundation and the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMU).

With Dr CR Abrar in the chair and Debayani Kar presented a keynote paper. It was also attended among others by Dr Quazi Koliquazzaman Ahmed, President, Bangladesh Economic Association, Anisur Rahmand Khan, secretary genera of WARBE Development Foundation, Mohammad Abdul Mannan of Islami Bank, Farida Akhter of UBINIG, Nazrul Islam of Agrani Bank and AKM Mosharraf Hossain of Bangladesh Krishi Bank.

Dr Quazi Koliquazzaman Ahmed said that private companies and banks that benefit from the transfer of remittances should invest in skill development of migrants, support research initiatives on labour migration and provide loan to migrants so that they do not have to sell their for property for mitigating their monetary demand.

Migrants send more than US $ 300 billion annually of which US $ 260 from to the developing countries.

Liquid gas to be imported from Qatar: Pvt power plants to be opened to industries

Staff Reporter

Government is likely to permit individual power plants to supply electricity to industrial consumers; using PDB transmission network on fixed rent.

Power plants will have to generate electricity in this case, using imported fuel managed by their own, said Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Dr M Tamim.

"The state-owned PDB's electricity transmission lines would be opened for all investments by private entrepreneurs. They will be allowed to use national Power Grid network on fixed rent," he added while addressing a seminar yesterday in the capital titled 'Better Business Through Eco and Energy Efficiency.'The Seminar was jointly organised by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Speaking on the seminar, Dr Tamim also informed that the present Government is seriously considering to import liquid gas from Qatar to cope with current gas shortage in Bangladesh.

According to him, the Government will need over $20 billion investment in power sector in coming few years. Importing gas from Qatar is an effort to search alternative power source. Government has already initiated talk with its Qatar counterparts that would take some time to finalise the deal, he added.

Per unit liquid gas from Qatar would cost around Seven dollar, likely to be imported through pipelines or barge shipments, he informed.

Dr M Tamim, who is responsible for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, emphasised on introducing solar energy mostly at the large building houses in the country to make do with the available power. "All large and new buildings must have solar energy facility," he said.

He also urged the media to create mass-awareness among the people and motivate them to come forward for saving energy. "Media can help change the habit of the people through motivation."

DU teachers to put on black badges today

DU Correspondent

The teachers of Dhaka University will take classes today (Thursday) wearing black badges to press home their demand for lifting State of Emergency as it was main hindrance to holding the Teachers` Association election of the University.

Earlier, Dhaka University Teachers` Association (DUTA) took the decision when it failed to hold their scheduled election on March 12 due to court verdict as per the writ of a student of the university.

Sources said, the teachers are launching their protest through today's programme and it would continue until normalcy was brought back in the country.

Prof Sadrul Amin, President of DUTA and Dean of Arts Faculty, said the election of the DUTA, in a bid to retain democratic environment of the university, should have been held but "We could not hold the election due to state of emergency, so Government should lift it as soon as possible", he added.