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US envoy asks Hasina about AL stance on next polls

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
US Chargé d' Affaires Judith Chammas yesterday called on Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina at her Dhanmondi residence and discussed the opposition's demands for electoral and caretaker government reforms and the main opposition Awami League's stance on the next general elections.
Awami League (AL) will participate in the polls, if people can exercise their franchise freely and
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openly, and if the election truly reflects people's verdict, the AL side told the US envoy.
"The acting US ambassador categorically asked us whether Awami League would participate in the next elections or not and we told her it depends on the atmosphere of the vote," AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah, who was present at the meeting, said.
However, an AL Central Working Committee meeting last Monday decided not to participate in the next parliamentary polls, if the opposition's demand for reforms of the caretaker government, Election Commission and some of the electoral laws are not met.
Quoting the meeting's discussions, Zafarullah said AL is a party that has always come to power through vote and respects people's choice.
"We are concerned about the fairness of the next elections, our participation in which will largely depend on the electoral atmosphere -- whether it is free and fair or not," he said, adding to ensure fair elections AL and its allies are going to place a set of reform proposals.
AL leaders apprised Chammas of the proposals, which are expected to be released tomorrow.
The AL side also alleged that the retirement age of High Court judges had been extended deliberately with a view to get a certain person as the chief of the next caretaker government.
In the hour-long meeting, Chammas termed the next parliamentary polls critical for the country's future and offered all types of assistance to hold it in a free and fair manner.
"We are working in many ways to support a free and fair election in Bangladesh though our development agencies," said the US envoy. "We have already initiated projects with the NDI [Washington-based National Democratic Institute] and the IRI [International Republican
Institute] and the bottom line of the projects is that the election be a free and fair one," she added.
The meeting also discussed frequent extra-judicial killings involving Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the US side reiterated its concern at such incidents, Zafarullah said.
AL International Affairs Secretary Syed Abul Hossain was also present at the meeting, where the first secretary of the US embassy in Dhaka aided Judith Chammas.