Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 899 Thu. December 07, 2006  
   
Front Page


No scope for polls beyond 90 days
Bhuiyan threatens agitation if time limit extended


BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday said there is no scope in the constitution to extend the 90-day limit for holding election and those who are speaking in favour of expanding the time are trying to make the people confused.

"We will begin movements if the caretaker government bows down to any illogical demand or if it seems to us that a neutral election would be hampered due to any government decision beyond the constitution," Bhuiyan said.

The polls schedule could be changed without shifting the election date and power should be handed over within 90 days after completing the electoral process, he told reporters at a press briefing last night after taking interviews of nomination seekers at Hawa Bhaban.

BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said a total of 203 nomination seekers for the next general elections from 23 parliamentary seats in Comilla, Chandpur and Chittagong districts faced the party parliamentary board led by Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday.

Meanwhile, the schedules for interviews of BNP nomination seekers were changed, said a press release. The BNP parliamentary board will take interviews of 211 nomination seekers from 45 seats of Rajshahi division today.

On yesterday's discussion between the caretaker government advisers and 14-party leaders, Bhuiyan said, "Everything must happen within the constitutional provisions. We will give our opinion after getting the government's decision as we do not know what they mean by reforms."

In reply to a question, he said, "I think it is not necessary to hold another meeting between the advisers and us as we have already informed them of our views."

On the latest changes in the administration, Bhuiyan said, "We do not oppose the transfers because we believe the government officials will perform neutrally during the election."

ASPIRANTS' INTERVIEW

A lot of supporters of the aspirants gathered on the Hawa Bhaban premises yesterday. They brought out processions and chanted slogans in support of their leaders.

According to the shifted schedule, the interviews of aspirants from Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts will be taken from 11:00am today while interviews of nomination seekers from Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Bogra, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Rajshahi districts will be held from 3:00pm.

The BNP in its press release asked the nomination seekers not to take part in processions and bear banners and festoons and chant slogans while coming to attend the interview.