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AL won't go to polls without interim govt reforms

Staff Correspondent
The main opposition Awami League (AL) leaders yesterday said that the party will not take pan in any election until necessary reforms in the caretaker government system and the Election Commission are made.
They said election before making the reforms would amount to a mockery and AL would resist such elections. "We want to make it clear that Awami League will not participate in any 'stage-managed election' and will resist government attempt to hold election without reforms in the caretaker government system and the Election Commission," said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil.
He was addressing a discussion organised to mark the 86th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The discussion held in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi was presided over by AL Presidium Member Zillur Rahman.
Jalil said that besides the reforms, it must be ensured that the next chief election commissioner and other commissioners are acceptable to all.
The ruling BNP-Jamaat government is planning to 'manoeuvre' the next elections, but people will never bear with this, he added.
On prime minister's refusal to make constitutional amendments for reforms in the caretaker government system, Jalil said that the constitution is no Quran or Bible that it cannot be amended. Every country amends its constitution to deal with the changing social and politicalcircumstances.
Referring to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's speech in Parliament Tuesday, he said the alliance government is conspiring to make Bangladesh a friendless country.
AL senior leader Zillur Rahman said not only AL, rather all the oppo-
sition parties and professional bodies are in favour of reforms in the caretaker government system.
"Taking responsibility of my position in the party, I want to make it clear that Awami League will not contest any election unless necessary reforms take place," he said adding that they would not allow the government to hold any election with AL on the sidelines either.
AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain taking part in the discussion said that Khaleda Zia in the past did not want to accept the caretaker government system, but eventually had to give in, and she would again have to meet the opposition demand.
He said that the government has extended the retirement age of justice so that they can have a person loyal to BNP as the head of the interim government.
Suranjit Sengupta said, "BNP and Jamaat are scared of reforms as they already know that people will reject them in the next elections for their sheer failure to deliver."
AL leaders Motia Chowdhury, Mohammad Nasim, Mohammad Hanif and Nurul Islam, co-ordinator of the Left 11-Party alliance, spoke atthe discussion.
Party insiders said that AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the decision-making body of the party, will meet this morning at the party's Dhanmondi office to discuss the latest political developments.