Sheikh Haslna Sunday called upon the people to vote for Awami League candidates in the ensuing by-elections to strengthen her party's struggle for economic emancipation, institutionalising democracy and establishing rule of law.

The Awami League chief also urged the administration to ensure free and fair holding of the September 1 1 by-elcc-tion and said her party candidates would win in all the seats if votes were not rigged.

She was addressing byelection rallies at Kochukhet. Asad Avenue. New Market and Badda in the city.

Awami League General Secretary Mrs Sajeda Chowdhury. MP. Lt Col (Retd)

Shawkat All. MP. noted free dom fighter Quad er Siddiqui. Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Awami League candidates contesting from Dhaka-5, Advocate Shahara Khatun and from Dhaks-9 AlhaJ Mokbul Hossain also addressed the meetings.

Sheikh Haslna alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to rig the by-elections through different ways Including bribing the people and the election officials and supplying duplicate ballot papers.

She said the BNP govern ment had utterly failed to serve the cause of the people during its five-month rule. She alleged that BNP chief who was elected from two seats in Dhaka city did not solve any of the problems there. If Awami League candidates could win the by-elections, her parly would compel the government to solve the local problems, she said

Due to inefficiency of the BNP government, sufferings of the people multiplied and law and order deteriorated threatening the newly-born democracy, she said.

She was critical of the VAT and demanded that the prices of essentials and agricultural Inputs Including fertilizer be brought within the buying capacity of the common people.

She said her party fulfilled Its commitment to the nation through forcing the ruling party to revert to the parliamentary form of government which was accountable to the people.

She also accused the BNP government of using administrative power for its party candidates In the by-election and said the administration belongs to the republic not to any political party. She urged the administration to remain neutral during the polls.

Referring to the Indemnity Repeal Bill, Sheikh Haslna said : who is also Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament "what crime I have committed that I would not be able to demand the trial of those who had killed by father, mother, brothers and other family members."

She pointed out that the Awami League had extended its helping hand to the BNP but those were not reciprocated.