Create atmosphere for credible polls, LDA tells PM
Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a platform of left-leaning political parties, on Tuesday urged the government to create an atmosphere for holding a free, neutral, participatory and acceptable to all election.
They also urged the government to dissolve Parliament before announcement of the election schedule, form a neutral caretaker government, reform the Election Commission, scrap the EVM, stop filing and withdraw political cases, create a level-playing field for all parties.
LDA Convener Saiful Huq, who is also the general secretary of Biplobi Worker's Party, said this to reporters after emerging from the dialogue with the Awami League-led 14-party alliance held at Ganobhaban.
He said they asked the government to take effective steps to accept their demands for the sake of holding the next general election in a credible manner.
Responding to a question, Saiful Huq said they will fix their next course of action after the PM's press conference which is scheduled to be held on Thursday.
He also mentioned that the LDA wants to participate in the election and that is why they joined dialogue.
Mujahidul Islam Selim, president of Communist Party of Bangladesh, said the ball is now at the court of the Prime Minister and everything is depending on her decision. "We're ready both for joining the election and boycotting it, too," he said.
Briefing the reporters, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said the Prime Minister attentively listened to the demands of the LDA.
Responding to a question regarding the movement of the Jatiya Oikyafront, he said: "They'll go for destructive activities in the name of movement and we will play the drums that will not happen," he said.
He also criticised various 'derogatory remarks' from the Oikyafront leaders from the rally that took place at Suhrawardy Udyan in the afternoon.
"They crossed the limit of decency," he said.
The other LDA delegation members include Mushrefa Mishu, president of Ganatantrik Biplobi Party; Zonayed Saki, convener of Ganosamhati Andolon; Mosharraf Hossain Nannu, general secretary of United Communist League of Bangladesh; Hamidul Haque, convener of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Anodolon; Khalekuzzaman, general secretary of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal; and Shuvrangshu Chakrabarty, central member of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist).
