B’Chy, others want fresh election

Former president Professor AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Tuesday stressed the need for arranging fresh elections canceling the one-sided so-called January 5 controversial elections.
Addressing a press conference at The Jatiya Press Club, organised by the newly floated Jatiya Ganotantrik Front, JGF Chowdhury also chief of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh said the government should begin the process of dialogue immediately with all stakeholders for the purpose.
Five demands were raised which are cancellation of the controversial election, sorting out problem of election time government, holding of election under neutral and accountable election time government, withdrawal of restrictions on meeting and processions and end to violence by the opposition.
JSD chief ASM Abdur Rab read out the written statement of the Jatiya Ganotantrik Front.
Professor Chowdhury was sharply critical of the role of Election Commission (EC) centering the what he termed so-called elections. The EC, he said, has taken two days to disclose the number of voters who cast their votes which should not have taken more than two hours. The EC, he said, acted as per the dictates of the government. Bangabir Kader Siddiki, chief of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League urged the Prime Minister to arrange fresh election after dialogue with all concerned. The election, he said, has to be participatory. He hoped good sense would prevail upon the government and it would act accordingly.
He was also critical of BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia for throwing hartal programme simultaneously with blockade without discussion with others.
The press conference was attended among others, by leaders representing Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, JSD and Krishak Sramik Janata League.