Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said on Friday that the next general election would be held under an elected government in accordance with the country’s Constitution. “We have all along maintained that the Awami League will not allow any non-political or unelected government during the time of the election scheduled to be held by January 2014,” he told reporters, after placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi in the city, on the occasion of the historic Six-point Day.
Urging the Opposition to return to Parliament, Syed Ashraful, also the local government, rural development and cooperatives minister, said opportunities were still there to resolve the current political gridlock over the interim government through talks. “But the Opposition must be cordial and it should return to the House with a specific proposal in this regard,” he added.
Expressing hope that the Opposition would come up with its proposal before Parliament on the election-time government, the AL leader said: “The discussion has to be started at the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament). The issue will be discussed by different teams and we hope a unanimous proposal will emerge.”
He also said that recommendations from different quarters on holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner will be considered for the continuation of democratic process.
Replying to a query from a reporter, Syed Ashraf said: “It is the responsibility of a political party to see that a free, fair and credible election is held, not others who have no eligibility to tackle a crisis situation centring around the polls.”
Lashing out at civil society members, he said: “These people are suggesting various formulas over the election-time government and creating trouble.” He also blasted intellectuals for criticising Sheikh Hasina.
On Friday morning, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi on the occasion of the historic Six-Point Demand Day. She stood in silence for sometime as a mark of respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Independence. Flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Sheikh Hasina placed another wreath at Bangabandhu’s portrait as the Awami League chief.
Among others, AL advisory
council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, presidium members Satish Chandra Roy and post and telecommunications minister Sahara Khatun, AL general secretary and LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam, environment and forests minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, state minister for law Quamrul Islam and AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif were present.
Later, associate bodies of the Awami League, including the Dhaka city unit of the AL, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Mohila Awami League and the Swechchhasebak League, placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu.
On this day in 1966, Bangabandhu launched a massive movement against Pakistani misrule on the basis of the Six-Point Demand, seeking autonomy for the then East Pakistan. Eleven people, including Manu Mian, Shafique and Shamsul Haque, were gunned down by the police and paramilitary EPR on this day in Dhaka and Narayanganj during a hartal, called for the release of Bangabandhu and other leaders detained for launching the Six-Point Movement.
-With The Independent input
