The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders warned the government that they would launch a tougher movement like the mass movement of `90 if they did not hand over power to the elected representatives withdrawing the state of emergency soon.

They claimed that the present Caretaker Government had turned the country into a bigger jail.

They said this while addressing a crowded press conference at the Modhu`s Canteen of Dhaka University yesterday.

JCD General Secretary Shafiul Bari Babu accused the government of filing cases one after another against the Zia family with a view to tarnishing its image.

With ill motive, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as per its assignment given by the government filed recently two cases against Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of detained Tarique Rahman and her mother Iqbal Mand Banu, he said.

Demanding the release of two former prime ministers-Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, Babu said the government is also oppressing the political detainees in the name of jail code.

The government should give election as soon as possible otherwise they have to face mass uprising, said Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, senior vice president of the organisation. He said they could go in joint movement with Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) if it is necessary.

Vice president Mustafa Khan Safari, Akramul Haque Biplab, Nurul Islam Nayan, Amirul Islam Alim, organising secretary Abdul Kader Bhuiyan Jewel, Bazlul Chowdhury Abed, JCD DU president Hasan Mamun and general secretary Saiful Islam Firoz, among others, were present in the press conference.

Besides, the students under the banner of 'Oppression against student movement' brought out a procession on the DU campus demanding release of BNP chief Khaleda Zia and the Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

Later, the organisation held a rally at the Aparajeyo Bangla where convener of the organisation Khomeni Ehsan, among others, spoke and demanded immediate release of the aforesaid leaders.