"We had demanded more amendments. The Election Commission was also of the same opinion with us during our meeting with it. But after the approval of the RPO by the Council of Advisers we found our suggestions absent. The government is day by day pushing people towards confrontation," said Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.

He was briefing journalists after a party presidium meeting at the Gulshan residence of Awami League acting president Zillur Rahman in the evening.

Ashraful Islam recalled that the 1972 RPO Act was passed in parliament, but this government has undermined that.
He warned that if the government tries to hold upazila elections before the parliamentary polls, there will be a serious trouble in the country.

Ashraful Islam alleged that the government is retreating from its promise made with the political parties during its dialogue. "The government has been very dishonest in its activities."

He said: "The government is now playing double standard. On one hand it is saying that if any political party doesn't take part in the local polls then it would lag behind five years and on the other asking the politicians not to join the elections."

Ashraful Islam said Awami League will observe mass hunger strike on July 19 across the country demanding effective steps to rein in the soaring prices of essentials.

He said the Awami League presidium leaders think that the state of emergency should now be lifted fully for creating a democratic environment in the country.

About the transit issue with the neighbouring country India, Ashraful Islam said they hope that the government would take into consideration the public interest first.