The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed at a book launching ceremony in the city called for forging national unity forgetting political identities to face the current crisis created by price hike of rice and other essentials.

Tofail, a presidium member of the AL, said this as special guest yesterday at the uncovering ceremony of a book titled 'Chhatra League-er Itihash Bangalir Itihash' (The history of Chhatra League is the history of Bangalees) at the Liberation War Museum.

Another presidium member of the party Abdur Razzak was present as chief guest.

Hailing Thursday's statement of Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed Tofail said the Army Chief had realised the severity of the situation prevailing in the country after the abnormal price hike of rice.

"Now the situation can be faced only by forging a greater national unity," he added.

He also demanded immediate release of the detained party chief Sheikh Hasina and urged the government to take steps to bring down the prices of the essentials.

Abdur Razzak said, "We have achieved national independence but not economic, social or cultural emancipation. The fight is still on for economic, social and cultural freedom."

He urged the Chhatra League to continue its movement for establishing peoples' right.

The book launching ceremony was organised by Chhatra League, Biani Bazar unit to mark the 60th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Central leaders of the Awami League and former Chhatra League leaders Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Sultan Monsur Ahmed, Mainuddin Hasan Chowdhury, Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique of Dhaka University, former Chhatra League leaders Baloram Poddar and Shahajada Mohiuddin, among others, were present at the function.