The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now in Washington, welcomed the declaration of the schedule for the long-stalled parliamentary polls.

She said with the declaration of the parliamentary election schedule, all confusion and apprehension among people over the December 18 polls were gone.

"Following my directives, Awami League's preparation for contesting the polls is almost at the final stage," Sheikh Hasina said while giving reaction over phone to his press secretary Abul Kalam Azad just after the Election Commission rolled out the schedule last night.

She also said nomination forms for the candidates have also been kept prepared.

However, Sheikh Hasina reiterated her demand for deferring the upazila polls with a "logical" time gap between the national and the local elections.

She said the upazila poll date should have been deferred. "I still think that the upazila polls should be held later in a rational time as I doubt how far the election commission will be able to shore up the upazila elections within the declared date," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also criticised the option of 'No Vote' on ballot papers, as she said such a system would confuse the voters and thus many votes would be spoiled.

Meanwhile, at home the leaders of Awami League (AL) have welcomed the poll schedule of the national election announced by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) last night and categorically demanded deferment of Upazila polls for at least one month.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman said, " We are happy on the announcement of the national poll schedule. Apprehension among the people regarding holding of the national election had been reduced more than 12 per cent."

He urged the government and the election commission to defer the upazila election and demanded total withdrawal of state of emergency.

He also informed that the party would start nomination paper distribution from next week.

Talking to The New Nation AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said, "We welcome the EC for the announcement of the poll schedule and thank it for taking initiatives to arrange the national polls. But we demand the deferment of the upazila polls."

Talking to The New Nation AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury and Suranjit Sengupta echoed the sentiments of Amu.

They also informed that the party would give a formal reaction in this regard today.