Dacca: Awami League has declared boycott of elections and accused Gen. Ershad, President of Bangladesh, of attempting to legalize his illegal government through martial law controlled elections. Awami League is the biggest political party of the country. It had established a convincing lead over Bhutto’s People’s Party but Bhutto did not allow its leader Abdul Mujilbul Rehman to form the government. Instead he imprisoned Mujib who later became President of the liberated Bangladesh. After his assassination Awami League was pushed into the background by the military rulers. Gen. Ershad appears to be afraid of Awami League’s popular base.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 15, 1985