The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League Acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday indicated that his party would take part in the Election Commission's dialogue on electoral reforms.

Disclosing this after a meeting of the Awami League (AL) Presidium, he told journalists they have decided to reactivate the 14-party alliance in order to submit identical proposals during the talks.

AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed was given the charge to maintain contacts with senior leaders of the component political parties of the 14-party alliance, he added.

"We will discuss with other components of the 14-party alliance so that all of us could take a common stand on pressing issues, including the electoral reform, on the basis of the alliance's 31-point proposals," Tofail Ahmed said.

This was the first meeting of the AL Presidium, the highest policy making body of the party, after party President Sheikh Hasina's arrest on July 16.

Only 5 of the 14-member Presidium atended the meeting. Of the other members-President Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr Mohiduddin Khan Alamgir and Qazi Zafrullah are in prison, Syeda Zohra Tajuddin indisposed, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak and Suranjit Sengupta are abroad and Senior Presidium member Abdus Samad Azad died.

Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting at his Gulshan residence. The meeting was atended by Sayeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofail Ahmed, Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser and Begum Matia Chowdhury. Party Acting General Secretary Mukul Bose atended the meeting as ex-officio member. Besides, Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan was also atended the meeting.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Zillur Rahman said the AL Central Working Commitee would finalise its action on the EC's dialogue on reform issue.

"After geting the invitation from the Election Commission for joining its dialogue on reform issue, the Working Commitee will decide if we will join or not and who will participate in the dialogue on behalf of the party," he said, hinting that he is going to join the EC's dialogue.

The Presidium in its resolution demanded unconditional release of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In a separate resolution, the AL expressed solidarity with other political parties, who demanded of the government not to allow Jamaat-e-Islami to take part in the elections and bring Jamaat leaders justice for opposing the Liberation War.

Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League and Ganotantree Party made the same demands during the ongoing dialogues with the Election Commission (EC) recently.

Zillur Rahman urged all party leaders and workers to remain united in the present situation as the country is "passing through a transitional period."

He said the party would arrange milad mahfil and doa on September 28 at Bangabandhu Museum marking the 61st birth anniversary of the party President Sheikh Hasina.

"As our leader is now under detention, we will not observe the day through any formal programme, but we will arrange milad mahfil and doa seeking her release and long life," the Acting AL president said, asking all leaders and workers to arrange milad mahfil on that day across the country.

Referring to the September 12 incident of heckling of pro-reform leaders by a group of AL activists, Acting General Secretary Mukul Bose termed it 'unfortunate' and said those who do not want party's unity had orchestrated the incident

"I know them all under whose directions the incident was staged, but I did not submit anyone's name to the probe commitee," said Mukul Bose, who was assaulted by the workers of the party.