The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday urged the government not to allow the local election observers to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections, as most of the employees of local observation team are directly or indirectly involved in politics.

AL delegation will sit with the Election Commission (EC) to discuss about different crucial issues relating to the parliamentary elections, which includes the issue of Representatives of People's Order (RPO) and electoral law.

Syed Ashraful Islam disclosed this at a press briefing following a AL presidium meeting at the Gulshan residence of AL acting President Zillur Rahman.

The party would write to the financiers of the local poll observers asking them not to provide them money, the stand-in general secretary said.

"No local observer can be allowed. I have seen in my electoral constituency that senior leaders of (BNP's student wing) Chhatra Dal and BNP were moving inside the polling station wearing observer's badges."

He also informed that AL will disassociate itself from all front organisations and the decision in this regard is going to be approved by the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) on October 11."

He said that the front organisations would run independent of AL influence and take decisions on their own.

The move comes in line with the new electoral laws that made it mandatory for political parties to disband front organisations to register with the EC and the deadline for registration ends on Ocober15.

The front organisations are Bangladesh Chhatra League, youth front Bangladesh Jubo League, women front Mahila Awami League, peasants wing Bangladesh Krishak League, labour wing Jatiya Sramik League, weavers front Bangladesh Tanti League, volunteers wing Awami Sechchhasebak League, physicians front Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad and lawyers wing Awami Ainjibi Parishad.

Ashraful declined to make comments on the relation with the overseas wings of the party.

Ashraful vehemently criticised the provision of the election code of conduct announced by the EC that the EC may scrap candidacy of any candidate even after the finalisation of candidates' list after scrutiny of the nomination papers.

"We are surprised at such law. We will go to the EC to discuss these issues," he added.

He said that the party would collect registration form from the EC secretariat today.

He informed that the ALCWC on October 11 would discuss about the issue of the party's constitution for getting registered with the EC as a political party.

He also demanded lifting of the state of emergency, unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of all the cases filed against the political leaders.

"It has to be ensured by enforcing law that the elections remain free from intimidation and vote buying.

"The government can use some emergency rules as general law. But there is no need to keep the state of emergency in its entirety in force."

Replying to a question, Ashraf said after finalising the issue of 'grand alliance' they would focus on nomination.

He said the party's draft manifesto was ready. The ALCWC will approve the manifesto with some changes.

Ashraf said party chief Sheikh Hasina, now on parole receiving treatment in the United States, has told them that she might return home on Octtober 26.

Demanding maximum security of Sheikh Hasina he said, "We are worried over her security. We have had primary discussion with the government on the issue. The government has also asked us to apply for security for our leader before she returns home."

The Awami League, Ashraful said, wanted that Hasina was provided security similar to the Prime Minister.

Presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Begum Motia Chowdhury, chairman of election steering committee HT Imam and party information and research secretary Nooh-ul Alam Lenin were present.