Most AL central leaders for JS polls first
Most of the central leaders of Awami League (AL) yesterday took a tough stance against upazila parishad election saying it must not be held ahead of parliamentary polls.
Holding of election to these local government bodies before parliamentary polls would be a violation of the Election Commission-announced electoral roadmap and constitutional jurisdiction of the commission, they said at a crucial meeting of the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC).
The three-hour meeting reached a consensus on AL's six-point demand that include holding of parliamentary polls first. It however did not discuss whether the party would take part, boycott or resist upazila election if the EC holds it in October.
The ALCWC viewed that the AL-led grand electoral alliance with Jatiya Party (JP) and Bikalpodhara Bangladesh still exists.
Sources said the JP, which was awaiting the AL stance on upazila polls, might follow this.
Held at AL President Sheikh Hasina's political office at Dhanmondi in the capital with acting party chief Zillur Rahman in the chair, the meeting decided to strengthen unity of the AL-led 14-party combine.
The meeting was adjourned till 4:00pm today.
Talking to the Daily Star after the meeting, Col (retd) Faruk Khan noted that as per the EC's roadmap national election would be held between June 15 and December 31, and upazila polls between November 3 and December 31.
Zillur Rahman and Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu came under criticism at the meeting for their earlier remarks on local body polls. Zillur had threatened to resist upazila polls while Amu suggested that both upazila and parliamentary polls should be held on the same day.
The meeting blamed the EC for irregularities regarding August 4 polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities. An AL delegation led by Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta would meet the chief election commissioner today to bring those to his notice. The irregularities concern counting of votes not at polling centres, and not allowing political leaders to campaign for candidates.
The ALCWC formed a committee comprising Presidium members and organising secretaries to review organisational activities and take corrective steps where necessary. It also finalised programmes for the National Mourning Day on August 15 and for August 21.
Comments