The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Both the factions of BNP yesterday said that the election would not be meaningful and acceptable without the participation of the two top leaders-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

With this the Awami League and two factions of BNP reached a common stand at least on a single issue, that is the release of the leaders of the two major political parties and get them involved with the election process to make it acceptable.

Apparently to change his previous stance, Acting Chairman of the reformist faction of BNP M Saifur Rahman yesterday said the election would not be meaningful and sustainable without the involvement of Begum Khaleda Zia of BNP and Sheikh Hasina of Awami League.

"I do not think that the election would be meaningful and sustainable without the two leaders," he said while addressing a group of BNP leaders from Sylhet who met him at his Gulshan residence in the city.

Two weeks ago, Saifur Rahman, however, expressed his determination to participate in the election even if the party chairperson Begum Zia is not freed.

On the other hand, Secretary General of Pro-Khaleda faction of BNP Khondoker Delwar Hossain addressing a meeting of Sramik Dal to mark the May Day said the election would not be acceptable if the election were held keeping the two leaders in jail.

He also called upon all political parties to resist any move to hold a stage-managed election in the country.

Most of the Awami League leaders have repeatedly said that no election would be held without participation of their party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The Awami League was also carrying out different programmes demanding the release of Sheikh Hasina and sending her abroad for treatment.

Saifur Rahman, standing by former party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, said, "We will participate in the elections taking Khaleda Zia with us and we will win two-thirds of the seats like in the past."

"If there were no support of the majority of the people of the country, the election would not be acceptable. It will be similar to that of the 15 February'96 elections," the former finance minister said, adding, "We do not want to see such elections rather, we want to start proper democratic process."

He said the two parties (BNP and Awami League) would have to participate in the elections to establish a genuine democracy in the country.

Khondoker Delwar Hossain branded the "Election Commission as the 'stooge of the government,' and called upon people to resist an stage-managed election of the EC.