Grand Alliance to go for blockade-January 7,8

Awami League (AL)-led grand electoral alliance yesterday announced back-to-back countrywide blockades on January 7 and 8 demanding publication of a 'properly' corrected and updated voter list, and resignation of Chief Adviser (CA) Iajuddin Ahmed. Speaking at a packed news conference yesterday, AL President Sheikh Hasina warned, if the demands are not met, the president's official residence, Bangabhaban, will be blockaded indefinitely.

Hasina said that the people want an acceptable election through which their verdict will be reflected and they will neither accept nor allow an election where votes are stolen indiscriminately. She also added that "an election acceptable to the people and participated by them is more important than holding it on a fixed date."

When asked if AL will boycott the election if their demands are not met even after the countrywide blockades, Hasina said, "We don't want to run away from the battlefield. We want to stay there and fight till our demands are met." The AL chief accused the president and CA of not being interested in creating a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election. The grand alliance's demanded resignation of the CA, rescheduling of the election and publication of the correctly updated voter list. She also called for rescheduling of the polling date for establishing a congenial atmosphere prior to holding the election.