The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Awami League central working committee meeting that began yesterday was adjourned until today morning without giving any formal reaction to Monday's Chief Adviser's address to the nation.

The meeting began at 5pm at party chief Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office and was adjourned at 6:45pm. It will resume at 11:00 am Wednesday.

Party senior presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury presided over the meeting due to the absence of its acting president Zillur Rahman for illness.

However, the meeting decided to observe Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day on May 17 countrywide, as restriction on indoor politics across the country has been lifted.

Hasina, who survived the August 15 massacre along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana as they were abroad at that time, returned home from self-exile on May 17, 1981 as president of Awami League.

Briefing reporters, acting AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the party would hold discussions meeting on May 18 at Diploma Engineers Institute.

The meeting decided that the working committee members would greet detained Sheikh Hasina at the special jail gate of the parliament building complex on May 17. Party Dhaka City unit will organise a milad mahfil at its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue in the afternoon.

Ashraf urged the party leaders and workers to observe the day with due respect across the country.

Meeting sources told UNB that AL leaders Abdul Mannan, Mahamudur Rahman Manna, Abdul Latif Siddequi, Nurul Islam Nahid, Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin and Adv Fazley Rabbi addressed the meeting.

Terming the CA's address to the nation unacceptable, they said the CA in his address ignored the party's five-point demand. "Under the circumstances, how much it would be wise for the party to participate in the formal dialogue and parliamentary polls," said a source wishing anonymity.

He said they requested the party top leaders not to join the dialogue without Sheikh Hasina.