The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League leaders yesterday termed the Supreme Court verdict on Hasina's case illegal and ultre vires of the rule of law saying that the majority of the country's people have been disappointed with this judgment.

"This verdict by the Supreme Court is illegal and this has disappointed ustThe nation didn't expect such a judgement from the country's highest court," acting president Zillur Rahman said.

He was talking to leaders of Bangabandhu Krishijibi Parishad when they met him at his Gulshan house.

They donated Tk 66,000 to the Legal Fund constituted for the detained party chief.

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the trial of detained AL chief Sheikh Hasina under the Emergency Power Rules in an extortion case was valid, overturning the High Court judgment that cancelled the trial proceedings halfway through.

Zillur said the Supreme Court is overturning all the High Court judgments and that is totally unexpected.

"The alleged offence took place at a time when the state of emergency was not imposed. Now the alleged offence committed prior to emergency has been placed for trial under the EPR is against the principles of the rule of law," he said.

The AL leader said the country is now passing through a very crucial time and only holding a free, fair and credible election can rid the nation of the crisis.

He reaffirmed that Awami League would not participate in the parliamentary elections without Hasina. "Holding a peaceful election in the country is not possible keeping Hasina behind the bar and without her presence AL won't accept any election."

Responding to a query about launching a movement for freeing Hasina, he said they would declare a tougher agitation when it would be necessary.

Speaking on the occasion, another party presidium member Suranjit Sengupta urged the government to lift the state of emergency.

He alleged that the rule of law is being violated in the country and demanded that the High Court should be given back its jurisdiction to grant bail to any convicted appellant.

AL leaders Abdur Razzak, Matia Chowdhury and Abdul Mannan and Bangabandhu Krishijibi Parisad leaders Dr Abdur Razzak, Shahidul Huq Chowdhury and Saidur Rahman Selim also spoke on the occasion.