Awami League demands Parliamentary polls by April

Dhaka, Jan 19 (UNI) The main opposition Awami League (AL) in Bangladesh, where a state of emergency had been declared over a week ago, today demanded that the stalled Parliamentary elections be held by April 11.

The elections set for January 22 were cancelled in the wake of the state of emergency imposed by Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed on January 11 to quell the political turmoil. The President's caretaker government was also dissolved and the new one took over to oversee the Parliamentary elections.

''The new caretaker government should hold elections within three months, ending on April 11. Otherwise, there will be crises in the country if they failed to hold the elections by that time,'' AL Presidium Member and former Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was quoted by UNB as saying.

He criticised the prior caretaker government headed by Mr Iajuddin Ahmed for failing to hold free, fair and acceptable election and wasting 77 days since October 29 last year.

However, the Awami League leader said if the caretaker government needed more time, then a consensus of all political parties would be required.

Asked about voters' ID card, he said the caretaker government should examine whether it would be possible within that time till April 11.

Although the new caretaker government headed by former Bangladesh Bank Governor Fakhruddin Ahmed assumed the office on January 12, no time-frame for the stalled elections was announced.

There is a widespread public impression that the incumbent caretaker administration might stay longer to ensure congenial atmosphere before the elections.

Mr Selim said a non-elected government could stay in power for a certain period of time, as an elected government will have to run the affairs of the state. ''This caretaker government should keep it in mind,'' he added.

In accordance with the Bangladesh Constitution, general elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament and a non-party caretaker government that would be in place for the interim period will oversee the elections and hand over power to an elected government.

Mr Selim said now the primary duties of the caretaker government were to update the voters list according to the direction of the Supreme Court, recast the Election Commission and de-politicise the administration.

''It will take maximum one or one-and-a-half-month to update the voter's list and after preparing a correct list, the elections schedule must be declared,'' he added.

About recasting of the Election Commission, he said the controversial Election Commissioners should resign following President Iajuddin Ahmed's resignation as Chief Advisor for being failed to hold a free, fair and credible election.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party alliance also called for holding of the elections immediately.

They alleged that President Iajuddin had to declare the state of emergency due to the violent agitation by the Awami League-led alliance to resist the January 22 elections.

The Awami League-led alliance abandoned the elections on the plea that they could give legitimacy to an election of blueprint to install Khaleda Zia's BNP-Jamaat alliance in power.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's development partners also suggested that the stalled elections be held soon preferably within May or June.

UNI