The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League will observe token hunger strike Monday without violating the emergency rules to press for its five-point demand that includes announcement of election schedule and release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.

The other demands of the party are bringing down the record high prices of essentials, holding trial of war criminals, Hasina's treatment abroad and improving the law and order.

The party got permission from the authorities to stage a token hunger strike only at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue and at its Dhanmondi office.

The hunger strike will begin at 10am and end at 4pm. AL acting president Zillur Rahman will end

the programme by offering juice to the fasting leaders and activists at the party's Dhanmondi office.

The token hunger strike is the first ever agitation program since the incumbent caretaker government assumed office on January 12 last year amid state of emergency.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police asked the Awami League to refrain from its hunger strike programme on May 5 in the capital, saying the programme is contrary to the Emergency Power Rules as the party did not take prior permission for observing the programme.

The party then applied to the Metropolitan Police on Saturday seeking permission to stage the programme and the authorities granted permission to observe hunger strike without violating the emergency rules.

AL central working committee on March 29 took the decision to stage the hunger strike and the party presidium at a meeting on April 23 decided to hold the programme on April 29, but later the party postponed the programme outside the capital and deferred it to May 5.