& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Leaders of trade bodies say

Polls have undermined people's voting right

Star Report
The February 15 parliamentary polls have severely un dermiued the people's right to elect candidates of their choice, representatives Z>f different trade groups said yesterday.
Talking to The Daily Star, they feared that, the national economy would continue to suffer since there was no sign of pn end to the lingering political crisis.
Leaders of the groups maintained that the government has committed a Blunder by going for elections without the participation of the opposition parties.
Shabbir Yusuf. Chairman of Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association. said: The turn out of voters in the February 15 polls was very poor.1 This election will fail to bring about any short or long term solution to the long-drawn political crisis. In stich a situation, the national economy would suffer the most.
Due to political instability over the last two years, overall export of Bangladesh has marked declined? In the Jute sector, foreign buyers have become very concerned.. There has been no major decision in the sector in the last one year, because everybody was waiting for a solution to the political impasse. As a result, India, pur biggest competitor, has taken the full advantage of our internal situation.
. We had almost attained a take off stage. But it would now take another three years to. offset the. setback.
Now, this is the time to decide our political and, economic objectives, which should remain unaffected despite all our problems.
M A Zaman Manju. Senior Vice President Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association, said: According to different observers and election monitoring groups, the turnout of voters in the February 15 polls was less than 15 per cent.
The BNP bagged 31 per cent votes in the 1991 elec-
lions So, this time. 16 per cent of BNP votes was not cast.
It shows that the BNP supporters have abstained from expressing their opinion.
BNP leaders have indicated that they would bring amend-hient to the Constitution, providing for a caretaker govern merit. If this is the situation. BNP leaders should have done it earlier to save our time and many lives.
On the other hand, the opposition parties have also proved that they lack farsightedness. They should have pressed for accommodating the caretaker government issue tn the 12th amendment to the Constitution.'
S U Halder. President of Bangladesh Handicraft Manufacturers’ and Exporters' Association. says: The way the polls were held without the opposition is not correct. If the political situation is not healthy, the economic sector would be damaged.
The trade bodies have deep relation with the overall economic survival of the country. Thus, the business community Is very concerned over what had happened In the name of election which major opposition parties boycotted.
To reach solution, we have to rise above petty political interests. Now we need a survey on what the commonman really wants.
Khandaker Ruhul Amin. President of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association. says: We believe that the Constitution is for the benefit of the people. A number of surveys have showed that an estimated 83 per cent of the people want elections under a caretaker government. The BNP should have been wise enough to understand this.
To find a solution to the political crisis, the main responsibility lies with the ruling party. BNP should now hold talks not only with the political parties, but also with different professional groups and trade txxiles.