The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A political party and members of a civil society yesterday demanded of the government to maintain neutrality in the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 29.

They also called upon the government to take necessary steps to ensure security of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

"The government is committed to ensure a level playing field for all parties but in practice a particular party is being favoured by the administration " said Barrister Abdur Razzak , assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Islami at a press briefing yesterday at the party's central office at Moghbazar in the city.

Expressing concern over the personal security of Begum Zia, the Jamaat leader said, " We condemn the heinous attempts to attack the four- arty alliance leader".

Moulana Rafiuddin Ahmad, member of central executive council, Prof Md Tasnim Alam, secretary, central publicity wing, Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarcar and Central Working Council members Mohammad Abdur Rob, Ahmad Ullah Bhuiyan and city executive council members Advocate Mosiul Alam and Farid Hossain, among others, of the party were present.

Meanwhile leaders of Bangladesh Sochetan Nagorik Samaj have also condemned the attempt on Begum Zia.

In a joint statement Alamgir Hasan Raju, president and Nurunnabbi Khan Joni, secretary general of the organisation blamed the state machinery for playing a biased role in favour of a particular political party.

"Conspiracy and false propaganda are being hatched to stem the rising mass upsurge in favour of BNP led four-party alliance," they added.