Controversial Bangla poll chief may go on leave
Nov 21, 2006 - 10:34:46 PM
, Reviewed by: Priya Saxena
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The political scene hotted up further when Jatiya Party, the third largest in the country, changed sides and joined Sheikh Hasina's protest bandwagon.
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By Indo Asian News Service,
[RxPG] Dhaka, Nov 21 (IANS) Bangladesh's Chief Election Commissioner M.A. Aziz, in the eye of a political storm for the past many weeks, may proceed on leave to perform Haj, media reports said Tuesday.
This became like after President Iajuddin Ahmed sent a team of his advisors Monday to 'request' Aziz to proceed on leave.
This may happen 'in a couple of days,' The Daily Star newspaper said.
Assuming that Aziz would finally quit, the president would be required to reconstitute the Election Commission that has three other members, and probably appoint a new incumbent.
A retired judge, Aziz has refused to quit contending that the caretaker government that Ahmed currently heads does not have the powers to change his office that is under the constitution.
Aziz himself indicated the likelihood of his going to perform the Haj when the advisors met him.
He may resign while on leave, the newspaper said.
His stepping down, in whatever manner, could end the political crisis that Ahmed has confronted since he stepped in on Oct 29 to perform double duty as head of the interim government that is to prepare for the parliamentary elections next January.
The holding of elections itself became uncertain as the 14-party political alliance refused to accept him as a neutral person capable of holding the polls.
Media reports said Aziz has been holding out because of the open support he has received from the rival four-party alliance during his tenure last year he was appointed to the key post.
Foreign envoys, especially Patricia Butenis of the US and Britain's Anwar Choudhury, have gone well beyond their diplomatic call, analysts have said, to meet all concerned to broker a compromise.
Butenis went on record Sunday saying Aziz had lost the confidence of the people and Choudhury warned of 'the last chance' for a compromise.
The duo's public utterances appeared to have made Ahmed to make a renewed effort, to which Aziz is likely to give in.
To force Aziz's ouster, the 14-party alliance led by Sheikh Hasina resumed for the third time its nationwide stir and to counter it, the rival alliance of Begum Khaleda Zia staged demonstrations, sending the decision makers in the country into a tizzy.
The political scene hotted up further when Jatiya Party, the third largest in the country, changed sides and joined Sheikh Hasina's protest bandwagon.
Its chief, former president H.M. Ershad, who had supported the poll chief till the last week, announced his party cadres would join the 'siege' that Hasina's workers have been laying to seek Aziz's ouster.
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