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AL wants end to politics of graft, confrontation

General Secretary Ashraf says

Staff Correspondent
Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said his party wants to change the country's political nature by bringing an end to corruption, extortion, murder and anarchy in the name of politics.
"We do not want to go back to confrontational politics. We want to change the country and its political culture and for this we need support from all political parties," Ashraf, also the LGRD and cooperatives minister, told reporters at his ministry office.
He said the government would consider extending the time for submitting political parties' ratified constitutions to the Election Commission if the EC comes up with a formal proposal in this regard. "We want to see all political parties registered," he said.
Ashraf, who was elected the AL general secretary at the party's national council on Friday, said the AL had to hold its council hurriedly to ratify the amendments to the party constitution to comply with the laws for registration.
The AL spokesperson appreciated the archrival BNP for accepting AL's invitation to join its national council. In reply to a question. Ashraf said the way Sheikh Hasina and he were elected party president and general secretary uncontested cannot be called completely democratic.
Efforts will be made in the future so that there are more candidates and party leaders are elected through direct votes of party councillors, he said.
Replying to a question, he said the fully-fledged AL Central Working Committee would be formed within the next couple of days.
He said the party activities would be geared up further following the council. "The party and the government will be run separately. The party will monitor the government's activities while the government will implement the party manifesto," said Ashraf.
The LRGD minister said in principle a consensus of all political parties is a must on crucial national issues like the trial of war criminals. "One party will seek trial of the war criminals and another will try to protect them--this cannot go on in thecountry,” hesaid.
Ashraf, son of the first president of the country Syed Nazrul Islam, said if the killings of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders are not solved permanently, division within the country cannot be resolved permanently.
He observed that corruption has taken the worst form as many do not work for their clients even after taking bribes. He strongly criticised the culture of defaulting loans and owning black money.
Admitting that it was the government that gave’ the chance to whiten undisclosed money, he questioned the moral standing of those who took the opportunity.
Responding to a question, Ashraf claimed that all sectors including the judiciary and administration became controversial after the 1/11 changeover. "We were responsible for this: 1/11 is the result of our overall failures. We have invited the peril ourselves," hesaid.
Several lawmakers and party leaders yesterday greeted Ashraf with bouquets at die ministry on his being elected the AL general secretary.