The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League central leadership yesterday bashed the caretaker administration for going to hold city corporation and municipal elections, which they termed "violation" of the constitution.

Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed told reporters in Gazipur that they want only one election under the caretaker government and that is parliament election.

Opposing just-announced local-body elections, he asked the government to lift the state of emergency and hold election to parliament first. Asked whether AL rejects the schedules for local-body polls, he said Awami League central working committee would take a final decision.

"Since the government claims that the law-and-order situation has improved, what is the necessity of keeping the state of emergency in force?" he posed the question.

Earlier, Tofail addressed an extended meeting of Gazipur district Awami League at Trust Community Center, as the party leaders embarked on cross-country tour following the recent lifting of a ban on indoor politics countrywide by relaxing the emergency rules.

Presided over by Gazipur district AL president AKM Mozammel Huq, the meeting was also addressed by Advocate Rahmat Ali, Mukul Bose, Meher Afroz Chumki and Zahid Hassan Russel.

In Comilla, Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury said any election prior to parliamentary elections would not be accepted.

Addressing an extended meeting of Comilla (South) Awami League, she said it is the job of the government to be elected through the general election to hold the local-government elections. "People will not accept any elections before the parliamentary polls going to be held in violation of the constitution," she said.

Calling for immediate lifting of the state of emergency, Matia, a firebrand student leader of the 60s, said, "A democratic election cannot be held by tying up people hand and foot under the state of emergency."

Presided over by Comilla (South) district joint convenor Mujibul Huq Mujib, the extended meeting was also addressed by Adv Abdul Matin Khasru, Capt (retd) Tajul Islam Taj, Maj Gen (retd) Subid Ali Nhuiyan, Adv Baset Majumdar and Fakhrul Islam Munshi.

The Awami League leaders demanded unconditional release of party chief and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA on interim release for treatment, and withdrawal of 'false' cases against AL leaders and workers.

In Jessore, Awami League central leader Abdul Latif Siddiqui said people would not allow local elections ahead of parliamentary elections.

Addressing an extended meeting of Jessore district Awami League, Latif Siddiqui criticized the government for failure to contain the soaring prices of essentials.

Presided over by acting district AL president Adv Farazi Shahadat Hossain, the meeting was also addressed by Munnujan Sufian, Khan Tipu Sultan, Shah Hadiuzzaman, SM Qamruzzaman Chunnu and Shaheen Chakladar.