The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday accused BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia of hatching conspiracy to foil long awaited national polls scheduled for December 18.

Her demand for the resignation of the Election Commission, Commissioners is the manifestation of the said design, he said. He said that Khaleda Zia was trying to undermine the political situation by raising such demand sensing certain defeat of her party in the upcoming national polls.

Zilur made this remark while addressing the leaders and activists at a token hunger strike programme of Gouranadi-Agoiljhara Awami Supporters' Forum demanding unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina at the Central Shaheed Minar.

"Khaleda's demand will severely harm the much-expected national polls of December 18. Such demand should not be made just before the elections," Zillur said.

Replying to a question, Zillur said, "The December 18 election will definitely be held and AL will participate under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. No conspiracy against the election will be successful."

Meanwhile, AL Presidium member Motia Chowdhury at an extended meeting of Dhaka City Awami League at the party's head office said, "Khaleda is hatching conspiracy to foil the national polls as she has understood that people would not vote for the anti-liberation force."

Matia warned that the people of the country would resist any conspiracy against the polls. "The national polls must be held on December 18. No deviation from this will be acceptable," she added.

Criticising Khaleda Zia's demand for EC's resignation, AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said, "Why should it resign now? The EC's only work is now to arrange the polls on December 18 in a free and fair manner."

Ashraful was addressing the leaders and activists at a protest rally of Jubo League demanding immediate release of Sheikh Hasina.

He apprehended that the country would fall into a deep crisis if the December 18 polls were foiled.

"I shudder when I think what will happen to the country if the December 18 elections are deferred," he said.

He further said the general election must be held for restoration of democracy in the country and protecting the country from massive losses both in political and economic sectors.

Ashraful also criticised the government's dilly-dallying tactics for releasing Sheikh Hasina and termed the cases against her 'false and fabricated'.

He suggested the EC to arrange the December 18 elections as per the previous constituency boundaries if any complexity arises regarding the re-delimitation of the constituency boundaries.

In the evening Doa and Milad Mahfil was held at the residence of AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu to mark the first death anniversary of his wife Begum Firoza Hossain.

Colonel (rtd) Oli Ahmed, Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Syed Ashraful Islam, AL Central Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan, among others, were also present on the occasion.