The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday warned the Government that AL would resist any conspiracy to push back the parliamentary elections, which was likely to be held by December as per the roadmap of the Election Commission (EC).

He made this comments while addressing the party leaders and activists at a discussion meeting organised by the Sadhinata Chikitsshak Parishad at the council auditorium of the Engineers' Institutions in the capital to mark the 33rd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"The Government is promise bound to the people to hold the national elections by December. The countrymen think that the Government would fail in its responsibility to the nation, if it failed to hold the elections by the deadline," Ashraful said.

He further said that the AL was supporting the Government by all means. The party did not announce any programmes such as hartal or siege but was repeatedly demanding national elections in time. But if the Government conspired to linger the election, AL would give a befitting reply to this conspiracy. So the Government has no right to put the nation in uncertainty.

"We believe that all the disputes over politics, national elections, state of emergency and other related issues can be resolved through negotiation. We are eager to join the dialogue with the EC on September 4 and we hope that the EC will consider our demand for holding the national elections ahead of other elections."

Criticising the activities of the Caretaker Government he said they never took any decision by consulting with the political parties rather they took several decisions in an autocratic manner.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said it was not possible for the party to meet the conditions for registering by October 15, the deadline announced earlier in the day by the Election Commission.

"Meeting all the conditions for the registration requires a council of the party, which is not possible to arrange amid the state of emergency," Amu told reporters at the National Press Club.

Amu pointed out the party had recently sought a date from the EC and the Government for discussions on such matters. "We hope a solution regarding registration will be reached through discussions. If not, we will decide our next course of action, " the AL leader said.

AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta also cautioned the Government not to do anything, which would compel AL to announce tough movement.

"We are not afraid to fight for the restoration of democracy in the country and we did so several times in the past," he pointed out.

Dr AF Ruhul Haque, President of the Parishad, presided over the meeting in which a number of AL leaders spoke.