Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) chairman Anwar Hossain Manju said on Monday that there was no alternative to holding election for continuation of the democratic and constitutional process.
“Holding a general election is a must for transferring power peacefully and for continuation of the constitutional process,” Manju told reporters after exchanging views with the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, at Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office. The JP chairman also said that his party would participate in the 10th parliamentary election under an all-party interim government. The JP does not believe that constitutional process would be hampered if a certain political party stays away from the elections, he added.
Replying to a question, Manju said that the JP, as in 1996, would contest the election for the sake of democracy.
Addressing the press conference, Workers’ Party president Rashed Khan Menon alleged that the main Opposition BNP, along with its key ally, the Jamaat-e-Islami, was unleashing a reign of terror across the country by observing “illogical” hartal to thwart the poll to be held byJanuary 24.
To a question, Menon said: “The Jatiya Party and we, the 14-party alliance, have reached an understanding that we will contest the poll to make it participatory and competitive.”
It is not just an election. It is a movement of the 14-party alliance against the defeated forces of the Liberation War, Menon added.
Awami League presidium member Mohammad Nasim said the poll would be held in time under the supervision of an all-party election-time government. “Wait and see… the general election will be free, fair and credible,” he said in reply to a question.
Nasim, who is also the spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, said: “We have reached an understanding that the parties which believe in the spirit of the Liberation War will contest the poll for continuation of the democratic process.”
“We are not bothered about which party participates or which stays away. The acceptability of a poll does not depend on the participation of a particular political party, it depends on people whether they cast their votes or not,” Nasim said.
He also called upon the pro-Liberation forces to be united to resist the BNP-Jamaat’s attempt to destabilise the country.
Among others, AL organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, deputy office secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Ganotantrik Party general secretary Nurur Rahman Selim, Politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu) presidium member Shirin Aktar were present at the meeting.
-With The Independent input
