On May 5, 11:08=A0am, nkdatta8...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=3D35235
>
> Tuesday, May 6, 2008 12:05 AM GMT+06:00 =A0 =A0Front Page
>
> UK hopes for polls without emergency
> Outgoing HC tells AL, BNP leaders
>
> Outgoing British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday said the
> UK government hopes the general election in Bangladesh would be held
> without a state of emergency in force.
>
> He said if a complete withdrawal is not possible, emergency should be
> lifted to the maximum extent as soon as possible.
>
> He made the observations while talking to re****ters after separate
> meetings with Awami League's (AL) acting president Zillur Rahman and
> BNP chairperson-appointed secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
>
> During discussions with the UK envoy, Zillur said his party would not
> participate in any election without its president while Delwar said
> former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina would have to be
> freed without delay.
>
> Anwar Choudhury said he hopes there would be a free, fair and credible
> election by the year-end and Bangladesh will make a step towards
> democracy by forming a meaningful parliament.
>
> He also observed that the Election Commission (EC) and the Anti-
> Corruption Commission are working in unison towards an acceptable
> election according to the electoral roadmap.
>
> Asked about the two major political parties' stance against taking
> part in any election without release of their heads, he said he won't
> make any comment since the issue involves a judicial process.
>
> He however said what is im****tant is that there should be a level
> playing field so all political parties can participate in the election
> without having to suffer any discrimination or disadvantages. =93If
> there is a level playing field, it is up to players to play.=94
>
> The outgoing UK envoy said he is pleased to see =93good progress being
> made in some critical areas like preparation of the voter list, which
> should be finished in July=94.
>
> Everyone should strive to take the country towards a middle-income
> nation by 2020.
>
> Coming out of Zillur's Gulshan residence, Choudhury told re****ters,
> =93It was a farewell call. We've discussed many things--the current
> state, concerns and hopes, and the forthcoming election."
>
> The AL acting chief said he had talked about his party's demands at
> the 45-minute meeting that began at 11:00am.
>
> "We've told him that first and foremost we want release of Sheikh
> Hasina and withdrawal of the state of emergency, announcement of the
> election date and an end to price spiral of essentials."
>
> Later, the Bangladesh-born British high commissioner went to meet
> Delwar at the latter's Nam flat.
>
> Talking about the meeting, the BNP secretary general told re****ters,
> =93We again said that the two leaders must be freed and allowed to take
> part in the elections to strengthen democracy.=94
>
> He said people would not accept any stage-managed election.
>
> Besides, he said, the state of emergency must be lifted to restore the
> rights of political parties.
>
> =93The government is filing cases to harass people while human rights
> violations have become commonplace in the state of emergency,=94 Delwar
> observed, adding that those detained are deprived of the treatment
> they are entitled to receive.
Hopefully they may be prevented from having an epidemic of premature
jihadulation..
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