Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has demanded fresh registration of voters through simplified forms with a view to preparing a flawless voter list before the next general elections.

Addressing a crowded press conference at her party's Dhaninondi office in the city yesterday morning. Hasina termed the voter registration form currently being used as complicated! faulty, unrealistic and time-consuming.' She went on to produce an alternative version of the registration form which, she said, was much simpler and realistic.

However, the AL chief said she had no objection to continuing the Election Commission's ongoing move to prepare n new electoral roll

which could be used as a database for issuing identity cards.

"But the database (for issuing ID cards) is a lengthy process and experts say It will take two to three years to complete. Since the general elections are round the corner. we demand immediate preparation of a fresh error-free voter list using the forms used earlier, along with the proposed amendments made by us." she told reporters.

Responding to a question. Hasina asserted that it would be possible to list all eligible voters before the next elections if her suggestions were implemented. But If the government fails to accommodate the AL demand to amend the voter registration form, then

the party would go for agitation to realise the demand, she added in response to another question.

At the news Conference, the AL chief also dealt with other political issues including repeating her charges of corruption against the government, the continuing political stalemate and the issue of caretaker government to conduct the next elections.

On the lingering political standoff, she commented. "The only way out of the crisis is to dissolve Parliament and arrange fresh elections under a non-party caretaker administration."

Hasina also blamed the government for wasting public funds by undertaking the "complicated" and "faulty" voters' registration plan although the EC had said completion of a database voter list was not possible before the next elections.

"It's now their headache, what they do with the plan. Let them decide the issue. We're not supposed to bother about their whimsical acts," she told the reporters.

In her written statement, the AL leader demanded inclusion in the voter list of all expatriate Bangladeshis through the country's missions abroad and involving the government officials, employees and teachers in the registration process. She accused the ruling party of engaging its sympathisers In the task and registering the stranded Pakistanis as voters under the current move.

She also reiterated her allegations that the enumerators belonging to the BNP were illegally registering people of their choice at the directives of the ministers and dropping the opposition supporters from the list.

Speaking further on the faults with the registration form now being used, Hasina said i^did not contain any serial number and there was no system to register the number of voter registration form books.

Condemning the reported allocation of Tk 25 lakh from government funds for each minister and BNP MP, she remarked. "This is nothing but a bribe to the electorate and the ruling party leaders would spend the money to hire goons."

The AL chief accused the government of unlawfully transferring, appointing and retiring public servants with an ill-motive to Influence the forthcoming elections.

Restating her charges of : corruption against several

ministers and their relatives, she cited some specific Instances with reference to official documents, which she claimed to have collected. But she did not produce any document at the press conference.

In reply to some other questions. Hasina said her party had reservations about the recent appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner since it was made by the government unilaterally, in breach of its earlier commitment to consult the Opposition. "They always talk about dialogue but ignore it when it becomes necessary." she said.

Central AL leaders Syeda Zohra Taj uddin. Abdus Samad Azad. Abdul Mannan. Zlllur Rahman. Abdur Razzak. Rah-mat All, Suranjit Sengupta. SAMS Kibria, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Abdul Mannan were present at the press conference.