The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The government and the military yesterday indicated that the state of emergency imposed 23 months back would be lifted before parliament elections rescheduled for December 29, as it is now a major demand of the major political parties.

Caretaker government's spokesman Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur said the emergency would be withdrawn on recommendation from the Election Commission at an "appropriate time".

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed also said yesterday they want elections to take place without emergency.

"That is what is going to happen, but it's my request to allow some time required to create the condition suitable for lifting it," he said, after the two rival political camps announced their conditional participation in the long-stalled polls activities.

The general made the remarks in response to a request made by FBCCI president Annisul Huq at a reception accorded to him by the business community for the contribution of Bangladesh Armed Forces to the nation.

General Moeen said he would submit a special request to the heads of the state and the government to lift emergency before the election.

A softened stance over the lifting of the emergency emerged in the wake of tremendous pressure from big political parties and persistent opinion from the international community, including the UN, the USA and the EU countries, favouring the holding of the general election without emergency in place.

Earlier, UN secretary-general Ban ki-Moon, who came here recently, preferred the withdrawal of emergency rules to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. A high-level UN panel now on election-assessment mission yesterday expressed the hope that the emergency would be gone before the polls.

EU Head of the Delegation Ambassador Stephan Frowein said they are not happy with election under the emergency although they decided to deploy full election-observation mission.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, the two former rulers and political rivals, expressed their strong reservation against the emergency. Khaleda Zia on Monday night made a precondition that the emergency rules must go to allow her party and alliance to participate in the December 29 elections.

The past three parliament elections were held under nonparty caretaker governments without the state of emergency. Political parties find no reason to keep the emergency in force for holding the election.

Political analysts say political parties, people and press will feel comfortable if the state of emergency is lifted ahead of the parliament elections.

However, analysts say the parties must pledge not to indulge in any violence over the forthcoming polls and extend all cooperation to the caretaker government for fair and peaceful voting.

On January 11, 2007, President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed declared the state of emergency to quell violence between Awami League-led and BNP-led alliances over an abortive election that was scheduled for January 22 that year.