File photo.
Dhaka //

The false and conspiracy cases filed against BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia have already been settled. Attorney General Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman has commented that there is no legal impediment to her participation in the next elections.

He said that the participation of the Awami League is not important for inclusive elections. If Sheikh Hasina is convicted for the July murder, many Awami League leaders, including her, will be ineligible for the elections.

The Attorney General said this at a shadow parliament organized by Debate for Democracy at the FDC in the capital on Friday.

Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman said that no one in the party dares to stand by Sheikh Hasina after her brutal fate. Those who destroyed the electoral system, tore up the constitution and violated people’s rights have been identified as villains of history, they will be thrown into the dustbin of history and will go to jail through trial. The martyrs of the July Revolution will remain the great heroes of history. This revolution was carried out with the spirit of the Liberation War and the determination to build a Bangladesh free of discrimination. An attempt is being made to destroy the achievements of this revolution. No conspirator will be able to destroy this achievement. Revolutionaries will remain united to establish human rights. The fascist Awami League took away people’s right to vote.

He said that in 1973, the last 3 elections were turned into a farce by snatching ballot boxes from Comilla in a helicopter and bringing them to Dhaka to make the candidate of their choice win. Those who tarnished these elections should be brought to justice and given exemplary punishment.

The event was presided over by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron.

In his speech, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said that former Chief Justice Khairul Haque had abolished the caretaker government system with the dishonest intention of keeping the previous fascist Awami government in power forever. The arrest and trial of Khairul Haque for forging the verdict of the caretaker government system is the demand of the hour. The fallen Awami government had taken away the right to vote of the people in this country. The Awami League has completely destroyed the electoral system through dummy, one-sided and midnight elections. In the last three elections, almost everyone involved in the elections, including the Election Commission, administration, police, returning officers, polling officers, were guilty of fraud. All those who committed these election crimes should be brought to justice. The government should seriously think about the process of trying the election commissioners who were involved in election crimes by breaking their oath.

During the tenure of the commission led by Kazi Habibul Awal, the power of the EC to stop voting was curtailed by amending the RPO. This power must be restored. The commission led by KM Nurul Huda was accused of serious misconduct and financial irregularities in the national election. The President must properly investigate the allegations and take necessary action.

To make future elections fair and acceptable, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran made 10-point recommendations— 1. Take initiatives to bring to justice all those involved in electoral crimes, including the Election Commission, who made the past elections controversial and questionable.

2. Investigate the allegations of misconduct and financial irregularities raised against former Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda. 3. Restore the EC’s authority to stop voting at any time, not only on polling day, but also by amending the RPO so that if the election environment is not conducive after the announcement of the schedule. 4. Take immediate action to punish those involved in election-time terrorism, intimidation, or any other type of election crime. 5. To have strict legal provisions to prevent corrupt, money launderers, bank robbers and loan defaulters from participating in the elections in any way. 6. To provide an opportunity to an internationally renowned election monitoring organization to observe the upcoming elections. 7. To repeal all laws that may hinder the media from reporting news during the election period. 8. To organize an agenda-based dialogue with political parties and civil society organizations, including the newly formed Election Commission, for the purpose of fair and acceptable elections. 9. To find ways to stop visible and invisible nomination trading in the interest of inclusive elections. 10. To ensure that the Election Commission remains above all differences, free from political influence and does not bow to any pressure.

The debaters of Eastern University won the shadow parliament titled ‘If the punishment of past election criminals is ensured, future elections can be made acceptable’ by defeating the debaters of Bangladesh University. The competition was organized by Debate for Democracy. The judges of the competition were Professor Abu Mohammad Rais, Dr. SM Morshed, journalist Ekramul Haque Sayem, journalist Saidur Rahman and journalist Moniruzzaman Mission.

Expressed their opinions.