AL talks with EC Sept 4
The Awami League (AL) will hold second round talks with the Election Commission (EC) on September 4 over issues including holding of parliamentary election before upazila polls, political parties' registration and lifting of the state of emergency.
"We want to sit with the Election Commission on September 4 as it sent a letter giving time for the talks between September 1 and 4," said AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.
He said the EC wants to resolve all crucial issues through discussion although it did not mention any topic for the discussion.
AL leaders said they want to discuss other issues including Representation of People's Order provisions like scrapping of front organisations and foreign chapters of political parties and option for "no" vote, national poll schedule, holding of party council, competence of the EC and its poll management and role of the army during election.
Meanwhile, key AL leaders yesterday expressed doubt about the government's intention in holding the national election by December, saying the election would not be held in five years if it is not held in December.
They were speaking at a discussion marking Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 33rd death anniversary organised by pro-AL doctors' body Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh.
Addressing the discussion, AL Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said varying statements made by the government have aroused doubts in people's minds over holding of the parliamentary polls.
Amu demanded announcement of the national poll date by October, saying they would then have no objection to holding of upazila elections.
Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta said the people gave the government mandate to be in power until December after which the government would be "illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic".
Syed Ashraf said, "If the parliamentary election is not held by December, it will not be held in the next five years." He said it is the duty of the AL to resist any move to delay the poll.
Ashraf said the present caretaker government is committed to people by a "social contract" to hold the national election by December.
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