Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday apprehended recurrence of the 1/11 changeover if political parties fail to institutionalise democracy in the country.

"Any failure to give democracy an institutional shape might result in such incidents in the country again," said Ashraf, also LGRD and Cooperatives minister, while talking to journalists at his office in the ministry.

He urged main opposition BNP and other political parties to join the parliament session, which will resume on October 4, to make it effective and institutionalise democracy.

"There is no alternative to establishing a sustainable democracy and making parliament effective. Otherwise there will always be apprehension of undemocratic rule in the country," said the AL spokesperson.

"I hope the opposition will return to parliament and speak for the nation. We shall solve national crises through discussion and there is no alternative to it," he said.

Ashraf said democracy would not be strengthened unless all political parties practise it in parliament.

The AL leader said since the people had to sacrifice a lot to get back democracy, all political parties should work together to give democracy a chance to flourish.

Ashraf said it is not possible to ensure development and establish peace without democracy.

The people's representatives must go to parliament without making any general issue a political one, the minister said.

"Come to parliament and speak," said the minister referring to the opposition.

Replying to a query, the LGRD minister said the government would withdraw all politically motivated cases filed against opposition leaders during the tenure of the last caretaker government.

"The cases which has no merit will be withdrawn," he said.

Asked about the price hike of essentials, he claimed that the prices of essentials, except one or two, had not gone up during Ramadan. He held the media responsible for price hike of sugar during the period.

Ashraf said the price of sugar is still high on the international market.

In reply to another question, the LGRD minister said the government has a plan to construct an expressway from Gazipur to Kanchpur to ease traffic jam in the city.