The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League will stage countrywide token hunger strike on April 29 to press for its five-point demand that envisages unconditional release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.

This is going to be Awami League's first agitation programme since the state of emergency was imposed on January 11 last year.

Decision of the hunger strike was taken at a meeting of party presidium presided over by acting president Zillur Rahman at his Gulshan house.

Other demands include declaration of the election schedule, containing record high prices of essentials, ensuring

Hasina's treatment abroad, trying war criminals and improving law and order situation.

On March 29, Awami League central working committee decided to stage the hunger strike before April 20.

Briefing newsman after the presidium meeting, acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said district level leaders will map out how they would observe the hunger strike without violating the Emergency Power Rules.

In reply to a question, he said the party's front wings are independent to draw up any programme. "Leaders of the front organizations are launching agitations according to their own strategies. We are not interfering into their programmes."

Asked about the clashes between two factions of Chattra League on DU campus, Ashraf said the presidium meeting expressed concern over the incident and urged them to settle down their dispute through discussion.