The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of the BNP-led four-party alliance yesterday urged the Election Commission not to announce the election schedules for the local government bodies, which is expected to come today, ahead of the national election.

Addressing a rally at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city, they demanded the parliamentary election by October 30 before local government elections and lifting of the state of emergency. The rally, organised by the four-party alliance to mark the Demand Day, was held with BNP Secretary General Delwar Hossain in the chair.

The four-party leaders demanded the release of the detained political leaders, including BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Jamaat Ameer Mualana Motiur Rahman Nizami. They denounced the EC's move to announce the schedules for the local government polls.

The leaders warned the Election Commission (EC) saying that the nation would label all people in the EC as conspirators, if the EC announced the election schedules of the local government bodies.

BNP Joint Secretaries General Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, BNP leader Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mujahid, Joint Secretary General Abdul Kader Molla, City Amir Rafiqul Islam Khan, Secretary General of Islami Okkya Jote Moulana Abdul Latif Nezami, Secretary General of Khelafat Majlish Ahmad Abdul Kader, Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Naziur) Barrister Andalib Rahman, Secretary General Shamim Al Mamun, among others, addressed the rally, while BNP leader Rizvi Ahmed conducted it.

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain said the nation would never forgive those, who hatch conspiracy to hold local government election before the parliamentary election.

Pointing at Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, Khondoker Delwar said: "I am saying you won't announce the schedules tomorrow (Friday) for polls in the city corporations. If you do it the nation will label you all as conspirators."

"We demand that there will be no local government elections before the national polls. If it happens and a chaotic situation arises for that this government and its backers will have to bear the responsibility," he said.

"If you deviate from holding the national elections first you would see how the people react to your move," he said.

He repeated the demand for lifting of the state of emergency by June 30 to pave ways for holding the long-pending national elections by October 30.

He said there would be no election keeping BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko behind bars. "Such an election would not be successful as the people would not favour that," he added.

He demanded the government to send Tarique and Koko abroad for medical treatment in line with the recommendations of the medical board.

Taking the report of the Transparency International, Bangladesh on corruption scenario under the regime of the present caretaker government, Khondoker Delwar said that this government should go as it has failed to curb corruption.

Pointing at the caretaker government he said, "You had come to power with a promise to curb corruption but now it's proved that you have failed to keep your words. That's why you should go."

"Stop all ill-designed game plans and blaming the politicians for all misdeeds," he said.

Khondoker Delwar said his party is not afraid of trial but that must follow regular laws of the land.

He also said the alliance would observe a "Protest Day" on June 30 across the country to demand curbs on the soaring prices of daily commodities.

Jamaat's Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid echoed the statements by the BNP Secretary General.

"The four-party alliance would resist any move of holding local government polls before the national polls," he said.

He accused the Election Commission of taking up a plan for "selecting people" in the name of election.

"It is also trying to break up the BNP and the four-party coalition," he said.