The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) yesterday urged the Election Commission (EC) not to tilt towards any particular party in implementing different rules of the recently announced Representation of People Order (RPO).

HT Imam, Co-chairman of the AL Election Committee, made this remark while talking to reporters after a meeting between European Union Election Observation Mission to Bangladesh and AL president Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence.

Referring to the question of awarding nomination to a candidate for the upcoming election on the basis of popularity in grassroots levels, he said, " Just now we will not say whether any party is violating this rule. But we hope the EC will take legal steps if any party violate this rule."

He also expressed AL's dissatisfaction on the EC's activities for rescheduling the polls schedule without consulting party.

On behalf of the party he alleged that the EC was trying to bypass the demand of the majority people for holding the national election on December 18 only to facilitate the position of a particular political party.

He also informed that AL sought for necessary assistance from the EU mission for holding the parliamentary polls free, fair and credible.

AL requested the EU mission to oversee the polls whether it would be held in a fair manner and if the voters could cast their votes spontaneously and to keep an eye on various post-election unexpected occurrences.

Talking to newsman, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, head of the EU Mission, said they had some confidential talks with AL president and said that he would not disclose this in detail just now.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep concern over the terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai on Wednesday night.

Talking to reporters former ambassador M Jamir said Sheikh Hasina during the meeting with the EU mission expressed deep sympathy for the victims of the dreadful attack in Mumbai where the number of casualty were over a hundred people.

Jamir said she asked her party's leaders and activists to refrain from all types of violences.