The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday welcomed the High Court verdict on the Election Commission's re-delimitation of constituency boundaries, on which depends the announcement of the parliamentary polls schedule.

He hoped that this verdict had reassured the holding of the national polls scheduled for December 18, as there was no obstacle on the way of the same.

About the petition in Supreme Court on this issue he said, "We hope if any appeal is filed with the higher court it will be resolved within the shortest time."

"There is no alternative to holding the national election on time. Election must be held on December 18. The caretaker government and the EC will have to take all the necessary steps to arrange the election, as the key responsibility of the EC is to arrange the national elections," Ashraful added.

Asked whether there was possibility of any political party boycotting the election, Ashraful hoped that all political parties would participate in the elections.

He also said, "We want the participation of all the parties in the election. There may be some temporary disputes, but all the disputes will be resolved at the time of taking final decision."

He also criticised the EC as it failed to do anything as per the Roadmap. But the voter listing could be complete in time as the army did the job, he added.

The High Court yesterday dismissed three separate writ petitions that challenged the EC's gazette on the demarcation of parliamentary seats, and which lawyers said cleared the way for announcement of the election schedule.

Ashraful reiterated the demand of immediate withdrawal of state of emergency and lifting of all the 'false and fabricated' cases filed against AL chief Shiekh Hasina.

AL presidium member Abdur Razzak said, "We have accepted the High Court verdict. We always respect the rules of law."