DHAKA, 11 November 2006 — The 14-party opposition alliance led by the Awami League vowed yesterday to paralyze the country with blockades and protests if the government fails to sack the official in charge of organizing general elections.
They also said the president is liable to be impeached for “violating oath and Constitution.” President Iajuddin Ahmed said earlier that after his taking over as the caretaker head the country had been placed under the presidential system.
“People are stunned at the president’s remark. He is trying to establish dictatorship by assuming the powers of the president and the caretaker chief,” Awami League Secretary-General Abdul Jalil told reporters in Dhaka.
The Awami League opposition and its 13 allies accuse the election chief, M.A. Aziz, of rigging voters’ lists in favor of the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government for the elections slated for January.
“We will wait until Saturday evening. If the (caretaker) government fails to act, we have no option but to return to the streets,” Jalil said yesterday. The opposition said it would cut off the capital, block roads, rail and waterways and close ports if the election head was not dismissed by late today.
“We have already extended the deadline after a request from the caretaker government. Unfortunately it has failed to implement our demands that are necessary for free and fair polls,” Jalil said.
The opposition has threatened to boycott the elections if Aziz is not removed and charge that a voters’ list prepared by his office has at least 10 million fake voters.
It has been calling for Aziz’s dismissal for months. The party has also made a string of other demands that it says are aimed at ensuring the interim administration’s neutrality as stipulated by the constitution.
The interim government led by President Iajuddin Ahmed last week asked the election chief to resign but he refused.
