Elections without the main opposition will be devastating for democracy, Akbar Ali Khan told media after a meeting with President Abdul Hamid Tuesday evening.
“We want free and fair elections. Democracy must be maintained,” he added.
He was speaking after six former caretaker advisors held a meeting with the president at Bangabhaban in wake of the current political situation of the country.
The five other “civil society” members who met the president were: Sultana Kamal, Kamal Hossain, Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, Shadheen Malik and Badiul Alam Majumdar.
“We conveyed our concerns to the president and sought a way out of this situation,” Akbar Ali Khan said.
“We know that the president is bound by his constitutional limits, but he can do more unofficially.”
The president is looking into the matter, according to this former bureaucrat.
In response to whether similar concers will be conveyed to the prime minister, he said “it will be of no use because she is the political rival of opposition chief.”
“We did not approach the president with any specific recommendations. We just informed him of the overall situation and sought a way out of this,” he added.
Kamal Hossain said that the leaders did not approach President Abdul Hamid from any specific platform, but as concerned citizens.
“The people have a unity for fair and acceptable elections, but the existing condition is concerning,” he said.
Sultana Kamal said the meeting was held with hopes for a way out of the current political impasse. “He (president) is our last hope.”
Meanwhile, the president's office also briefed media on the meeting.
President's Secretary Ihsanul Karim said that members of civil society discussed the current political violence and arson in the country.
They requested his (president) effort while reminding of the condition to hold elections by January 24.
On Monday, Election Commission set January 5 to hold the 10th national elections amidst disapproval from main opposition BNP.
Hours after the announcement, the opposition BNP-led alliance called a nationwide 48-hour blockade.
Civil society wants president's effort
Civil society members requested contribution of President Abdul Hamid to help ease the current political impasse while reminding him of the condition to hold national elections by January 24.
The president's secretary, Ihsanul Karim, briefed media after six former caretaker advisers held a meeting with the president at Bangabhaban on Tuesday evening.
“Six representatives of the civil society held a meeting with the president over the existing political violence and arson in the country,” he said.
“They requested the president's contribution in this situation, and in response to this, the president assured to convey their message to the due authority.
“The civil society members did not point any specific proposals, but reminded President Hamid of the condition to hold national elections by January 24,” he added
The Election Commission on Monday declared January 5 to hold the 10th national elections amidst disapproval from main opposition BNP.
The meeting between civil society members and the president comes a day after BNP rejected the polls-schedule and called a 48-hour nationwide blockade.
