"Though the next caretaker government will fix the army's role in the next election, the prime minister has started giving directives to the army about its electoral role," the ALCWC observed at a meeting yesterday.

As the prime minister and BNP chief has no confidence in her party leaders and workers for their massive corruption, she (PM) is using the army in distributing VGF cards among the poor, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said, briefing newsmen when the meeting was adjourned.

The meeting chaired by party chief Sheikh Hasina was held at AL's Dhanmondi office in the capital.

Hasina, also leader of the opposition in parliament, in her speech blasted the BNP-Jamaat coalition government for appointing another election commissioner on 'political grounds '. This is part of its conspiracy to hold election as per a blueprint, ignoring the people's demand for electoral reforms.

"We have been demanding reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) to ensure that the next parliamentary election is held in a free, fair and impartial manner. But they (government) have appointed another election commissioner, proving that they do not want a free, fair and neutral election held in the country," Hasina said.

The AL chief said caretaker government system was formulated to ensure a non-party and neutral government, which would create a congenial atmosphere for a free and fair election. "But Justice KM Hasan (who will head the next caretaker govt) is not a neutral person since he was international affairs secretary of the BNP. And for this, no free and fair polls can be held under him," Hasina said.

On the issue of government-opposition dialogue on reform proposals, Hasina said while BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan speaks of one-to-one talks (Mannan Bhuiyan -Abdul Jalil) , the prime minister opposes the reforms and says the next election will be held as per the constitutional process. This proves that she (PM) neither wants dialogue nor election, she added.

The AL chief said the government even did not reply to the opposition's latest letter on dialogue. Because of dwindling public support for it, the government is dilly dallying over the reform proposals. Mentioning the PM's claims about massive development taking place, Hasina asked her why then she is afraid of carrying out the proposed reforms.

The government is now preparing a fresh list of criminals, the AL chief said, and demanded making it public before handover of power to caretaker government.

She apprehended that a number of AL leaders and workers might be included in the list as part of the government's conspiracy to eliminate the opposition.

Hasina once again demanded that militant kingpins who have been awarded death penalty be taken to condemned cell and allowed to speak to the media before the court verdicts are executed. It is not being done to hide the fact that the government itself created and patronised the militants, she added.

The people now want an end to the BNP-Jamaat government's misrule and corruption, Hasina said, urging all to unite to realise this.