The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman yesterday apprehended that it might be difficult for the government to arrange the parliamentary polls within the four months remaining of the year.

But, he noted, the government has no chance of deviating from the electoral roadmap declared by the Election Commission.

Zillur was replying to journalists after a delegation of Bangladesh Chhatra League went to meet him at his Gulshan residence on the occasion of release of BCL secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Rotan from jail.

Just after the BCL's call on, newly elected Barisal mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron met Zillur Rahman.

"But we have no alternative but to wait for the parliamentary polls as the government is assuring repeatedly," Zillur said.

He also aired doubt about government motives behind holding the parliamentary polls in the third week of December as the government is enacting new laws.

"Instead of working for arranging the election within the roadmap, they are enacting new laws. I don't know whether it is their new conspiracy against the elections," he said.

About the launch of Political Intelligence Office (PIO) under the Metropolitan Police, Zillur Rahman said such a step is for putting pressure on the political parties ahead of the election.

The Awami League leader alleged that with enforcement of the PIO law, the government would try to remove politics from the country.

Asked about the threat of BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar for tough movement for ex-PM and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's release, Zillur Rahman said AL is always against all illegal acts.

"Any party, whether it has morality or not, whether it is big or small, has the right to work for release of their party chief," he said.

AL presidium members Tofail Ahmed and Matia Chowdhury, among others, were also present during the meetings.