No polls without Hasina, under emergency: AL

Awami League (AL) yesterday said it would not take part in any election if the state of emergency is not withdrawn and AL President Sheikh Hasina is not "permanently and unconditionally" released. "In no circumstances we will take part in any election without Sheikh Hasina and amid the state of emergency…we will not hold any party council without her," said AL acting President Zillur Rahman. He said this while addressing a protest rally at the city's Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh. AL organised the rally as part of its countrywide protest programmes to press home the demand for "permanent and unconditional" release of Hasina and lifting of the emergency. A few thousand party workers joined the rally chanting slogans. It created a huge traffic jam on the Shahbagh-Matsaya Bhaban road. Similar protest rallies were also held at districts of the country. "Our movement will continue until the false charges against our leader are withdrawn and she is freed unconditionally," Zillur said. The AL leader said democracy cannot be established under the state of emergency and the elections cannot be free, fair and normal. He said it is now being questioned whether the national elections will be held on December 18. ”Everything including the government's attitude and demarcation of the parliamentary constituencies shows that there is conspiracy centring the national elections," he said. In the rally, AL set October 30 the deadline for the government to give assurance of releasing Hasina. Zillur said the AL will not start its election activities unless it is assured of Hasina's release. Saying that conspiracies are being hatched by different quarters to foil the December 18 elections, AL presidium member Abdur Razzak directed his party workers to prepare to resist the conspiracies. He said the government would be responsible if the elections are not held on time. AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed said the state of emergency is an obstacle to political parties willing to take part in the December 18 elections. AL leader Matia Chowdhury said ethically, politically and from the perspective of accountability to the people, they are bound to go for a movement to free Hasina. Giving assurance of ratifying, if and when in power, all the good activities of the incumbent government, she asked the government to seek apology to the countrymen for its misdeeds. AL acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said a free, fair and credible election with the participation of all political parties is only possible with the release and active participation of Hasina. Asserting that there is no alternative to elections, he said the country would plunge into darkness if the elections are not held on time and nobody knows what would be the solution then. He demanded the state of emergency be lifted. AL Joint General Secretary Mukul Bose, however, categorically accused two countries of South Asia and the Middle East of conspiring to foil the national elections with the help of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. AL leaders Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Abdul Mannan, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Abdur Rahman, MA Aziz and Qamrul Islam also spoke at the rally.