'Partisan' appointments protested in districts

They brought out processions and held rallies in several districts protesting appointment of Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria. They are 'partisan' persons, appointed so that the Election Commission can take decisions in favour of the BNP-Jamaat ruling alliance, speakers at the rallies said.

Our RU Correspondent reports: Awami Jubo League yesterday took out a procession and held a rally at Shaheb Bazar zero point in Rajshahi city protesting appointment of Justice Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Zakaria as election commissioners.

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The processionists chanted various anti-government slogans protesting what they called politicisation of the Election Commission (EC).

City Jubo League President Ramzan Ali led the procession.

Addressing the rally, Jubo League leaders rejected the appointment of the two new election commissioners. The BNP-Jamaat government appointed them in violation of the High Court verdict to cling to power through by manipulating the next general election, they said.

They also claimed that no government in the past appointed such partisan persons in constitutional posts.

They called upon the people to unite to foil the alliance government's evil design to snatch their voting rights by preparing a 'fictitious voter list' with the help of 'their men' in the Election Commission.

Presided over by district Jubo league President Abu Shaleh, the rally was addressed by among others, Jubo League central member Asraf Hossain Nawab, its city unit general secretary Musharaf Hossain and district unit general secretary Assaduzzman.

Earlier in the morning, Rajshahi city and rajshahi University units of Bangladesh Chhtra League (BCL), student wing of Awami League, jointly took out a procession in the city and held a rally protesting appointment of the election commissioners and killing of its leader Jahangir Kabir.

Addressing the rally in front of AL office, BCL leaders said the new election commissioners were appointed with a motive so that the EC can take decisions in favour of the ruling alliance.

They demanded cancallation of the appointments and threatened of tougher agitation for non-compliance. BCL will not accept appointment of any Election Commissioner unless made on the basis of consensus of all political parties, they said.

The rally was addressed by among other, BCL leaders Abdul Momain, Zedu Sarker, Ayeen Uddin and Zahid Ali.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Some hundred Jubo League activists brought out a procession and held a rally in Gaibandha town yesterday protesting the appointment of two election commissioners.

The activists paraded the streets of the town and chanted slogans demanding immediate cancellation of the appointments.

After the procession, a big rally was held on the premise of district Awami League office, which was also attended by activists of other front oreganisations of Awami League. It was addressed by, among others, Gaibandha Jubo League President Shah Masud, Jahangir Kabir Milon, Emarul Islam Sabin, Niranjan Kumar Ghosh, Rezaul Karim Bhutta, SK Tasher Ali and Abu Baker Kajol.

Terming it 'politicisation of the Election Commission' they demanded immediate cancellation of the appointments. Otherwise, tougher agitation will be launched to compel the government to cancel the appointments, they said.

The speakers also called upon the people and professionals to observe the countrywide dawn to dusk hartal on January 22, called by Awami League to protest the appointments.

They said the ruling alliance came to power through rigging polls, and now they are trying to cling to power by manipulating the voter list and politicising the Election Commission. People will resist the move, they said.