DHAKA, 26 April 2004 — Opposition Awami League MPs yesterday marched toward the Parliament building in Dhaka to press for the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for midterm poll and withdrawal of the proposed 14th constitutional amendment, which they dubbed unconstitutional and undemocratic. But the speaker rejected their demands.

“Down with Khaleda-Nizami regime,” “Give midterm polls,” shouted the opposition legislators while parading from Dhanmondi road No. 27 to inside the Parliament building in the afternoon.

Nearly 40 out of the 58 Awami League lawmakers joined the procession, led by senior party leaders Abdus Samad Azad, Zillur Rahman, Abdul Jalil and deputy leader of the opposition Abdul Hamid.

Later, at about 4 p.m., they met with Speaker Zamiruddin Sircar at his chamber and handed over a 5-point memorandum.

The memorandum called for the resignation of the government for midterm elections, withdrawal of the 14th constitutional amendment bill, release of all political detainees and halting undemocratic and unconstitutional actions to allow peaceful political activities.

The Awami League lawmakers also demanded concerted efforts to meet the 15-point demand of opposition leader Hasina Wajed.

While handing over the memorandum, Abdul Jalil criticized “police excesses and attack” on the houses of Awami League leaders and MPs during the peaceful anti-government demonstration. He sought intervention of the speaker to put an end to such activities against the opposition MPs.

The AL general secretary deplored the mass arrest by police and attacks by plainclothesmen, saying that these have created panic among the people.

To end the political unrest, the government should resign to pave the way for midterm elections, he said.

“Come and debate all these issues in Parliament,” the speaker told the boycotting Awami League MPs responding to their grievances against the proposed 14th constitutional amendment.

Referring to the demand for the government’s resignation, he said the government elected to power through democratic means should remain in power for five years and it should be allowed to work. “If they don’t perform, they have to go out through the mandate of the people.”