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AL prepares for polls next week

BNP working on election manifesto

Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) will formally start election preparations next week by finalising draft election manifesto, proposing amendments to the party constitution to get registered with the Election Commission and holding talks with components of the 14-party combine led byit.
Meanwhile, BNP has started the groundwork to prepare an election manifesto.
AL has already started preparing campaign materials for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
"We will start formal election preparations after the Puja holiday (October 9)," AL presidium member Motia Chowdhury told The Daily Star yes terday.
Asked about this, AL acting President Zillur Rahman said, "We will begin election preparations after our party leaders, currently staying in their constituencies,
return to Dhaka."
Meanwhile, the AL has drafted electoral manifesto with a wide range of polls pledges that include good governance by ensuring accountability and transparency, strengthening the Jatiya Sangsad. establishing rule of law by conducting anti-corruption and anti-terrorism drives, economic development through setting up of EPZs at different places in the country, introducing science-based education, poverty alleviation through employment opportunity to at least one member of each family.
AL advisory council member AMA Muhith said the election manifesto would be finalised before party President Sheikh Hasina returns home from the US.
Hasina might return at the end of this month, and the manifesto would then be placed before the AL Central Working Committee meeting.
AL acting General Secretary
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Syed Ashraful Islam said they are also workingon amendments to the party constitution to get registered with the EC
They would start talks with allies in the 14-pany combine soon, and have started selecting candidates for the parliamentary election, he said.
AL Publicity Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor said they are now preparing leaflets and posters and audio-video programmes for electoral campaign.
While exchanging greenngs with party leaders at his Gulshan residence on the Eid day. Zillur Rahman said they would go for agitation ■ programmes if Sheikh Hasina is not released permanently within a short time.
Leaders present on the occasion included Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed. Mukul Bose. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Mannan. Sultan Mohammad Mansur .Ahmed. Col (retd) Faruk Khan. Maj Gen (retd) Shubid Ali Bhuiyan, Col (retd) Shawkat Ali and Mostafa Jalal Mo hi uddin
BNPPREPARATIONS
Despite difference of opinion regard • ing the party's participation in the upcoming parliamentary election under the state of emergency. BNP high-ups started the groundwork to prepare an election manifesto.
Party leaders hinted that the manifesto prepared for the stalled January 22,2007 elections would be the base for the new manifesto. They said curbing corruption and a policy to reduce price of essentials will get higherpriority.
A senior leader of die party yesterday said all election- related activities including candidate selection will start soon under the supervision of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her newoffice in Banani.
The chairperson will also regularly meet district-level leaders, possible candidates, and well-wishers of her party to boost their morale ahead of the general elections, he said.
.Asked about election preparations and the manifesto, MK Anwar, vice-president of BNP told The Daily Star last night. "The party manifesto would be made following BNP's 19-point chaner prepared by late president Ziaur Rahman."
Party insiders said the BNP chairperson will start her election-related activities by holding a meeting with four-party alliance leaders at her new office. She has already asked party leaders and former lawmakers to prepare for the polls, scheduled for December 18.
A group of part)’ leaders including
party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain do not want to make any announcement that they would participate in the elections as they think this would help them mount pressure on the government in realising their demands. Their demands include lifting ol lire state ofemergency.
"BNP wall not participate in the so-called election under the state of emergency." Delwar yesterday told reporters at his Nam flat in thecity.
I eaders close to Delwar. however, hinted that part)’ high-ups already asked the leaders across the country to prepare for tire polls ignoring all internal conflicts.
'We will execute programmes to realise our demands and prepare for elections at the same time." a former lawmaker close to Delwar told The Daily Star, adding that they will hold rallies across the country on October 12. The rallies are aimed at mobilising the party's district- and upazila-level leaders.