Khaleda calls for rally tomorrow

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, JULY 11.As the countdown for the transfer of power to a caretaker authority began, the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina held its last meeting on Monday and the Opposition called for a midnight march on July 13 to coincide with the end of the ``autocratic tenure''.

The four-party Opposition alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia has announced that it will ``celebrate the end of the autocratic rule'' with a mass procession in Dhaka. The ruling Awami League has decided to continue the current parliament session till 12 p.m. on July 13 in response to the Opposition's threat to ``drag the Government down'' with a mass agitation before it completed its tenure .

Begum Khaleda Zia's directive to her partymen to demonstrate on July 13 was termed as ``provocative'' by the ruling party which in turn has decided to observe a ``Democracy Festival'' from July 13 not only in Dhaka but all over the country to mark the completion of five years in government. It remains to be seen if the political demonstrations will lead to a deterioration of law and order. The President, Mr. Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed on Monday hosted a traditional farewell dinner for Sheikh Hasina's Council of Ministers.

At a massive rally on Monday, Begum Khaleda Zia asked the people to take to the streets on midnight of July 13 if the Government failed to hand over power at 12.01 a.m to coincide with the dissolution of the seventh Parliament. She asked the incoming caretaker Government to recover illegal arms and arrest terrorists. She also placed two significant demands; one that local observers be allowed inside the polling stations and the second that the army should be given judicial powers to ensure peaceful polling.

The Awami League has opposed the first demand, saying it may create lawlessness if local poll observers were allowed. On the question of giving magistracy powers to the army personnel, the Awami League said it was in favour of army deployment but said it must be under civil authority. These two questions will be resolved after the caretaker Government to be headed by Mr. Justice Latifur Rahman assumes office on July 14- 15. The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. M.A. Syed said the general elections were likely to be held during the first week of October.

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Section  : International
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