AL, left alliance for full lifting of politics ban

Acting President of Awami League (AL) Zillur Rahman yesterday demanded that the caretaker government completely lift the ban on indoor politics and the state of emergency soon.
"The government should lift the state of emergency now since there is no such situation in the country that requires state of emergency. A peaceful situation has rather been prevailing in the country," Zillur said.
He was speaking at a ceremony where former deputy secretary Mohammad Shamsul Haque joined the AL.
Gonotantrik Bam Morcha, a platform of 11 left-leaning political parties, also demanded yesterday that the caretaker government lift the state of emergency immediately and allow political activities in the country.
The AL acting president observed that the nation is passing through a "suffocating" time as there is the state of emergency in force. He said world leaders also do not like the state of emergency to continue for a long time.
As the political environment in Dhaka has been peaceful after the withdrawal of the ban on indoor politics here, the government should make the withdrawal effective across the country so that the AL can make preparations for the upcoming local government election.
Zillur said although the AL has not yet taken any decision about taking part in the local government polls, including that of Dhaka City Corporation, there is possibility that it will. "The Central Working Committee of the party will take the final decision on the matter," he said.
Zillur also demanded immediate release of the detained AL leaders against whom there are no specific charges.
Asked to comment on Col (retd) Khandaker Abdur Rashid's claim that Col (retd) Taher had link with the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Zillur described the interview of the condemned fugitive aired on Channel i early Wednesday as "strange".
AL leaders Advocate Rahmat Ali and Khairuzzaman Liton were present at the programme at Zillur's Gulshan residence.
Meanwhile, Sayeed Khokon who left the AL to join the newly formed Progressive Democratic Party met Zillur last night for the first time. Details of the meeting could not be learnt immediately.
The AL holds a meeting today with its city unit leaders at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the city to revive its Dhaka City unit committee.
BAM MORCHA
Revealing a 15-point demand at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, leaders of the 11 parties also urged the government to form a special tribunal for trying the war criminals and disqualify them for the general elections.
They also demanded separation of the Election Commission Secretariat from the Prime Minister's Office, now the Chief Adviser's Office.
The Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB-ML), Workers' Party of Bangladesh, Biblobi Oikya Front, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, Jatiya Gono Front, Gonotantrik Majdur Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Mahbub), Sramajibi Mukti Andolon, Gonosanghati Andolon, and Bangladesh Gonotantrik Andolon formed the Morcha on September 12 and prepared the 15-point demand "to bring back a sound political environment" in the country.
"We formed the Morcha to strengthen the left-leaning parties and freeing politics of black money and corruption," said Morcha Coordinator and BSD convenor Khalekuzzaman.
He demanded removal of all ordinances and "black laws", including the Special Powers Act.
The caretaker government should dissolve the National Security Council, he said, adding that empowering the council is "militarising" the country.
Tipu Biswas, coordinator of Jatiya Gono Front, said crossfire, encounter, direct detention and "torture in the name of remand" should be stopped.
"Law enforcers are violating human rights in the name of remand," he said.
Moshrefa Mishu of Biblobi Oikya Front said conspiracy of banning student and labour politics should be prevented and the caretaker government should pay attention to holding a free and fair election.
Advocate Abdus Salam of Gonotantrik Majdur Party, Badrul Alam of CPB, Hamidul Haq of Bangladesh Gonotantrik Andolon, Babul Biswas of Sramajibi Mukti Andolon, Saiful Islam Master of Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, Rezaur Rashid Khan of BSD and Zonayed Saki of Gonosanghati Andolon, among others, attended the press conference.