The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

In a major development, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday unequivocally said that her party and the four-party alliance were prepared to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections if it is held on December 28.

Briefing journalists after a meeting of the leaders of the 4-party alliance at her Gulshan office, the former prime minister said the government should fulfill their demands for lifting emergency, amending of section 91(e) of the RPO and deferment of upazila elections by a month to facilitate a free, fair and keenly contested election.

Begum Zia repeated her call to the government to withdraw the unilateral decision on holding of elections and make a fresh announcement on the basis of dialogues with all parties.

She termed the government announcement on holding the elections clear interference in the functioning of the Election Commission (EC) despite the EC's consent of holding the polls on December 28.

The four-party leader warned that it was not a matter between the two parties rather tradition and image of the patriotic armed forces are also involved with the entire process. "We have to take decision more carefully," she added.

As part of the conspiracy against the country and to destroy the democratic and Islamic forces, Begum Zia alleged, the government tried to exile her and her family.

"Being failed, me and my family members were sent to jail on different pretext and persecuted in all ways," she alleged adding the attempt was not succeeded due to the blessing of the countrymen.

Begum Zia further alleged that conspiracy was also hatched to obliterate her family and keep them out of politics and create factions in the party.

Being failed in also these attempts, now the government has started holding a staged and designed elections, she said.

She referred that the January 22 election in 2007 was cancelled on the pretext of lack of consensus among two parties, boycott by a party and allegation of partiality against the then caretaker Government and said that the present government also proved it practically on the same grounds.

Seeking cooperation from all, in the endeavour for establishing the rights of people, Begum Zia said, "I am still in the country. I want to stay here. I want your support to establish people's rights' not to go to power."

She mentioned that the four-party alliance had dropped its seven points and placed four conditions as it was eager to take part in the elections.

Justifying the necessity of withdrawal of emergency, the BNP Chairperson said the elections cannot be held in a free and fair manner under emergency.

"Under the emergency, voters cannot cast their votes freely, there will be no festive mood among the voters and it will not carry out their accurate reflection," she observed.

Regarding cancellation of the section 91(e) of the RPO, the BNP leader alleged that questions have already been raised on the neutrality of EC and that's why the alliance did not want providing its unbridled power.

Criticising the government for changing its last minute decision, she said five advisers of the government had termed the discussion with her fruitful and promised to discuss further but they did not return to them.

She mentioned some of their leaders were communicated from Chief Adviser's Office on December 19 and wanted to know whether they want to take part in the elections if it is held on December 28.

"From the BNP side the government was assured that they are ready to take part in the polls if it is held on December 28 and asked the government to fulfill their three other demands to hold the elections in a free and fair manner," she mentioned.

Expressing her surprise on the sudden announcement from the Chief Adviser Office after holding a series of meeting with some influential and powerful persons and keeping the nation in a suffocating situation that the elections would be held on schedule, Khaleda Zia said the announcement astonished and frustrated the whole nation.

"The countrymen did not wait for two years to see such a planned and uncontested and unilateral elections," she observed adding that the government through its announcement made it clear that it has taken position in favour of a particular alliance between the two," the BNP leader said.

The former prime minister extended her thanks to democratic countries and institutions like US-based NDI to take their position on holding a free and fair election participated by all parties.

The hour long committee was attended, among others, by BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain, Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, IOJ leader Maulana Abdul Latif Nezami, BJP leader Barrister Andalib Rahman.

Earlier Begum Zia had a meeting of party standing committee. The meeting was attended by M Saifur Rahman, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr RA Ghani, Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, M Shamsul Islam, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman and Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain.

Hossain Zillur

Meanwhile, in an immediate reaction, Adviser for Commerce Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told reporters that they had nothing to say at the moment but would give a decision after further discussion.