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AL stays rigid

Wants holding of polls as per constitution despite int'l call for dialogue, consensus

Hasan Jahid Tusher
The ruling Awami League remains rigid in its stance that the next parliamentary elections must be held in line with current constitutional guidelines, without paying much heed to the international community's call for a consensus over a polls-time government.
The party, however, will hold discussions if the main opposition BNP places any proposals in parliament over the formation of an interim government comprised of elected people, AL insiders have told The Daily Star.
The ruling party has already decided that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be at the helm of the polls-time government.
Though it might discuss the BNP's proposals in parliament over an interim government, it will not accept any proposal that conflicts with the constitution.
"In no circumstances will we move from our position in favour of holding the next election according to constitutional guidelines," acting AL general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told The Daily Star.
"We can have discussions with the BNP only about the formation of an interim FROM PAGE 1
government with elected representatives," he said.
Party leaders believe if the AL maintains this stance, it will boost the morale of its leaders and workers, and increase the chances of winning the next election.
The AL is paying little attention to the international community's calls for a consensus over an election-time government, said party insiders.
The Daily Star yesterday talked to AL policymakers and ministers to get their opinions on the LIN secretary general's phone calls and the US secretary of the state's letters to Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia and also the European Union's calls for consensus.
Most of the ministers and leaders reacted negatively about the move by the international community. They alleged that the BNP was welcoming "the foreign initiatives" only to get their sympathy.
A few leaders claimed the sudden "foreign initiatives" to resolve the country's political impasse might be an outcome of the BNP's lobbying abroad.
"Intervention in any country's internal affairs by another nation is unfortunate and unwarranted," said
AL lawmaker Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said any foreign mediation to resolve the ongoing political crisis would be humiliating for the nation.
Preferring anonymity, another minister said, "Foreigners will do their job and we will do ours. We will not allow any move to include unelected elements in the polls-time government."
It would not be possible for the government to move an inch from its current position for the continuation of democracy, said a senior AL policymaker, asking not to be named.
The ruling party leader, however, said the government would welcome any suggestions from the international community if they went with the country's constitution.
Khalid, also organising secretary of the AL, said that as in the past, any mediation by the international community would not yield any results.
"It is our problem and we will find the solution," he said.
The ruling party leader said if the BNP placed any proposal for bringing about changes to the electoral system, it would not be possible to implement them
as the process of holding the election had already got underway.
AL lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, "The Awami League is committed to holding a free, fair, and participator}' election, and our foreign friends also want the same. The party believes in constructive engagement as a means of achieving this within a constitutional framework."
ALTO EU DELEGATION The ruling AL has urged the visiting European Union delegation to ensure that no extremists or members of radical groups or controver-sial people come to Bangladesh in the guise of election observers ahead of the next general polls.
It made the request at a meeting with the delegation at the party president's political office in the capi-tal's Dhanmondi on Monday, AL acting general secretary Mahbubul Alam HaniftoldThe Daily Star.
Hanif said the party was worried that terrorists might enter the country to carry out subversive activities during the election period.
He, however, did not elaborate on the matter.
The foreign minister and senior AL leaders were present at the meeting.