The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League leaders on Saturday strongl demanded unconditional and immediate release of the party president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina They also urged the government to arrange proper medical treatment for her ears and eyes, allowing her to travel to United States for treatment.

"Our leader Sheikh Hasina's release is very necessary at this moment," AL acting President Zillur Rahman said while inaugurating a mass signature campaign at the Diploma Engineers' Institution in the city.

Dhaka City Awami League organized the programme attended by AL presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta, Tofael Ahmed, Begum Matiya Chowdhury, Al acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and City AL leader Qamrul Islam. Acting president of Dhaka City Awami League MA Aziz presided over the function.

Zillur Rahman said the situation in the country is very critical and only Sheikh Hasina's release can help overcome the prevailing crises. He said the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasia had efficiently handled a situation of food shortage in 1991 and the staggering floods in 1998. Not a single man died of hunger during the severe floods in 1998.

Zillur Rahman urged all party leaders and activists to unitedly work for the country and expressed the hope that their leader Sheikh Hasina would soon return to them.

Appreciating the city Awami league for holding such a programme, Tofael Ahmed said the mass signature campaign would continue till the release of Sheikh Hasina. "If Sheikh Hasina is not released, a new movement will be launched," he said.

He also urged the government to immediately release the Sheikh Hasina on humaitarian ground, allowing her to travel to United States for better treatment.

Suranjit said The Awami League's demand for release of Sheikh Hasian and her treatment abroad is 'legal and democratic' right, adding that the mass signature campaign would turn into a mass movement for her release.

About the proposed Truth Commission, he said the constitution of the country does not allow such a 'strange commission' where anybody would be allowed to go without trial after committing crime. Suranjit also urged the government to hold the general election without delay, realizing the demand of the people. Matiya Chowdhury strongly criticized the caretaker government for unabated price-hike, deterioration of law and order, unemployment and the downturn of the country's economy.