Next polls in 2019 as per constitution: Syed Ashraf

Govt will not give in to any pressure, he says

Stating that the government will not give in to any pressure, Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Wednesday said the next general election would be held as per the constitution.

“It’s my firm belief that the present government will remain in power for five years and the next election will be held as per the constitution. And it’ll be held within 90 days before January 28, 2019 when the tenure of the present government ends,” he said.

Seyd Ashraf, also LGRD and Cooperatives Minister, was delivering his introductory speech at the Awami League Central Working Committee meeting held at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence Ganobhaban in the evening. AL chief Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

The ruling party leader said the tenure of the present government will remain in force till January 28, 2019 while the next general election would be held within 90 days of this timeframe.

Mentioning that the present AL government has two-thirds majority in parliament through which it could amend the constitution. “But, it has no such intention no matter how much pressure is exerted on it. The next election will be held as per the constitution as in other countries of the world.”

Referring to the move of the diplomats and representatives of various countries prior to the 10th parliamentary election to hold the election under a non-political government, Ashraf said many have now become tired. “But some are still there who have not become tired.”

“We’ll have to remain alert …..and it’s my belief that if we remain united under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and our party, parliament and government move ahead, Bangladesh would march far ahead.”

Expressing his high optimism regarding the way the Prime Minister has initiated her works this time, the LGRD minister said now there is no scope for looking behind.

Stressing the need for making parliament the centre of all activities, he said all concerned would have to play their due role to this end.

He said on the basis of previous experiences, the Prime Minister would run the government successfully and would work for implementing each and every pledges envisioned in the election manifesto.

“Now, the work of our party will be to assist the government and be a partner of its development works, because it is not only possible for the Prime Minister and her cabinet members,” he added.

In this regard, Syed Ashraf urged the AL central working committee members to become a part of the government’s development activities as it is not only a task for the government, but also to the nation.

Referring to the upcoming upazila elections where the ruling party is putting emphasis on selecting candidates through opinions from the grassroots to give democracy a firm footing, he said the party men would have to consider this election with due importance and central committee members have to tour their respective areas.

In this connection, he said Sheikh Hasina has never intervened in any election and the upcoming upazila elections would be held in a free and fair manner and it will be acceptable to all.

He also expressed the plan to select one member, one vote strategy to elect party candidates in future like the other democratic countries.

Turning to the ‘false’ media reports quoting international media like New York Times, the Guardian, he said there has been such trend for the last couple of months adding that in some cases, not only the news, the source also appeared to be wrong.

The AL general secretary reminded that although AL is in power, but it is not the time to feel relaxed and all would have to remain alert so that the democratic process is not deterred.

He said there were apprehensions of creating anarchy and incidents prior to the January 5 polls, but those were averted due to right decisions in right time by the Prime Minister for which the parliament and democracy got longevity.

Prior to the day’s meeting, a condolence notion was adopted in memory of those passed away recently as well as remembering the martyrs of language movement, father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders. A one-minute silence was also observed. The AL central working committee members attended the meeting.