The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League spokesman and Joint Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said the party had finalised nomination for almost all the constituencies, which might be declared in a day or two after completing discussion with 14-party alliance partners.

He also called on all political parties to participate in the national elections for the sake of restoring democracy in the country.

Ashraful made this remark while briefing reporters after a meeting of 14 parties at the AL Dhanmondi office, which was presided over by AL chief Sheikh Hasina after 17 months.

"Since the inception of the 14-party alliance, we were promised to each other to conduct movement unitedly against the BNP-Jamaat government and to contest in the national polls unitedly. Following this commitment we will participate in the upcoming polls under the banner of 14-party alliance," he said.

He said, "Today we have discussed about the seat distribution for the national polls, state of emergency, spiral of price of daily essentials and other crucial issues."

"14-party has taken some decisions, which include holding of the national election on December 18 at any cost, complete lifting of state of emergency ahead of the national polls, and re-announcement of upazila poll schedule after the parliamentary polls" Ashraful Islam said.

He added that the alliance's stand is that the polls cannot be deferred under any circumstance.

He noted that the people of the country were eagerly waiting for the parliamentary election. AL wants to return people's power to them by establishing parliamentary government in the country through a free, fair and credible election.

He urged the government to defer the upazila election and to re-announce the upazila election schedule after national election.

Ashraful reiterated that the national election must be held on December 18 at any cost otherwise a disastrous situation would be created in the country and categorically demanded complete lifting of state of emergency ahead of the national polls.

Replying to a question wheather the 'Gono Forum' is in the alliance or not, he replied, "Gono Forum is still in the alliance. There are no doubts about GanoForum being a party; but confusions are there about a particular Gano Forum leader."

Asked how much seats AL would sacrifice for its partners, he disclosed nothing and said, "we will disclose this after finalising the issue by intra-alliance talks."

Asked how the nomination list would be published, through the press or issuing letter individually to the candidates, he replied that we will inform this in time.

To another question on Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad's claim that,according to an agreement with the Awami League, he will be the country's president if they win, Ashraful Islam said this matter would be made clear later on.

Rashed Khan Menon and Bimal Biswas of Workers Party of Bangladesh, Hasanul Huq Inu, Syed Jafar Sajjad and Shirin Akhter of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), Enamul Haque of National Awami Party, Abdus Samad of Gano Azadi League, Asit Baran Roy of Communist Kendro, Zakir Hossain of Ganotantrik Majdoor Party, Nurul Islam of Ganotontree Party, Dilip Barua of Sammyabadi Dal (ML) and Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Abdul Jalil, Suranjit Sen Gupta and Matia Chowdhury of Awami League were present at the two-and-a half-hour meeting.

Meanwhile the Ambassador of Switzerland Dr Dora Rapold yesterday met with Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence.