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| Bangladesh |
| Hasina hits out at EC over polls delay |
| 2007-04-08 |
| Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina, now on a personal visit to the United States, yesterday blasted the Election Commission (EC) for delaying holding the next general election. Public patience would begin to wear thin if the polls are put on hold for a longer period, she said referring to the 18-month timeline announced by the commission last week. Hasina also had a go at the caretaker government, terming it 'undemocratic and unconstitutional'. She made the observations in an interview with the BBC radio yesterday morning. The AL chief accused the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led government of denying the people the right to choose their 'own government'. She then sought to remind them that in the past no undemocratic government could last long. The former prime minister criticised Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda for his remarks that the commission would need at least 18 months before declaring the election schedule. He said the time is required to prepare a flawless voter roll with photographs. Hasina said she wonders why should it take one and a half years to make a voter roll and why they [EC] have not even started the work yet. The poll chief at a press conference on Thursday announced the 18-month timeline and unveiled a set of electoral reforms. |
| Posted by:Fred |