The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League Wednesday called for the caretaker government to open dialogue with the political parties as its acting president Zillur Rahman said discussion with the politicians is the only way to resolve the staggering political dilemmas.

The party also demanded of the government to send detained AL president Sheikh Hasina abroad for her better eye treatment.

"The government should now sit with the political parties to solve the political problems and should hold general election as soon as possible," Zillur said, while talking to reporters when some organizations handed over donation to him for SIDR victims.

And he said Sheikh Hasina must be provided with proper Medicare until she is flown abroad for better treatment without delay.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina's personal physician Syed Modhassir Hosain had advised her to go abroad for her eye treatment. The acting AL president urged the government to withdraw state of emergency and ban on indoor politics across the country. "When the government claims that the country is running in a systematic way, why then emergency should continue?" he posed a question.

He demanded holding a free and fair election after withdrawal the state of emergency and claimed that if election would be neutral and people could cast their vote fairly, Awami League must return to power.

Zillur expressed his deep concern over the price hike of essentials, including rice, and said the government should take immediate initiative to control the price spiral.

"If the government doesn't take step in this regard immediately, then people could die from starvation," he feared and also demanded of the government to sit with politicians to solve the crises.

Terming 2007 as the year of sorrow and grief, the AL leader said, "In 2007 our leader Sheikh Hasina and other leaders were arrested, people of country's southern part were badly affected by SIDR and countrymen lost their democratic right due to state of emergency."

He demanded restoration of the democratic rights of the people by lifting state of emergency and release of detained party president Sheikh Hasina on the eve of New Year.

About release of the arrested Dhaka University teachers and students, Zillur alleged that the government has broken its pledge in this regard and urged the government to free them with respect.

"The government wants that the Dhaka University teachers seek apology for their deeds, but they didn't do it as they would not bow under any pressure," he said.

Responding to a query about Dhaka City AL demand for declaring conventional movement for releasing Sheikh Hasina, AL leader said that the party Working Committee would decide in this regard if it got resolution from the city unit.

Asked about Law Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein's remarks that politicians are seeking permission from the government to go for movement in the name of indoor politics, Zillur didn't make any comment. But he said he "prays" for Mainul Hosein so that this Adviser continues his "tall talk daily".

AL leaders Abdur Razzaq, Tofail Ahmed, Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdul Mannan, Aktaruzzaman, Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, Prof Nazma Rahman, Dr Dipu Moni and Dr Hasan Mahamud were among others present.