AL cancels Jan 2 Dhaka rally

Source: STAR file photo

Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed

Awami League has cancelled an election rally planned for January at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

The ruling party came up with the decision this afternoon in line with a suggestion by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed.
"We have decided not to proceed with the programme to show respect to an Election Commission suggestion," HT Imam, co-chairman of the election conduction committee of the AL, said after a meeting with the CEC this afternoon.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the EC Secretariat, HT Imam said Prime Minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina will address the nation on January 3.
Mashiur Rahman, former economic affairs adviser to the prime minister, accompanied HT Imam during the 45-minute meeting with the CEC.
He said the CEC had suggested them not to go ahead with the rally as it may violate the election code of conduct which restricts use of more than 20 loudspeakers at campaign meetings.
Voting will take place only in 146 constituencies as there is only single candidates in the other 154 seats in the January 5 parliamentary election which the opposition parties are boycotting in demand of a non-party polls-time arrangement.
Asked if the election will be held in a peaceful manner, the AL leader said: "It cannot be guaranteed that the polls will be peaceful. But we will take all-out efforts so that voters can go to polling centres and return home without any hassle."
Saying there might be some stray incidents on the election day, he added that every candidate has been instructed to maintain an environment for a fair and non-violent election.   
About the nonstop blockade that the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance will enforce from tomorrow morning demanding cancellation of the January 5 election, HT Imam said BNP depends on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir for observing such programmes.
He alleged that the Jamaat-Shibir has been creating violence across the country and their aim is upsetting the trial of the war criminals instead of resisting the election.
They want to stop the war crimes trials by making the situation of the country unstable.