The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League central working committee, the decision-making body, Wednesday decided that the party can only participate in the government-sponsored dialogue along with its president Sheikh Hasina now in jail.

The working committee after 2-day deliberations announced mass hunger strike in every district, upazila and union on May 20 to press for releasing Hasina.

The party would also form human chain in the capital, but the date has not been fixed.

An extended meeting of Awami League will be held on May 26 to discuss the latest development and map out its future action programme.

The central committee demanded immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency, lifting all undemocratic conditions imposed on indoor politics, holding of the parliamentary elections first and stop intimidation and interference into media industry.

The working committee meeting began on Tuesday and ended yesterday afternoon at the party's Dhanmondi office. Acting president Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting that warned that any conspiracy of holding parliamentary elections under the emergency would not be acceptable.

The meeting observed that election and dialogue process and preparing effective national charter would not be possible without the presence of people's trusted leaders.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam termed the Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed's Monday address to the nation 'unacceptable' and said the nation has disappointed, frustrated and upset by the CA's address.

He said the caretaker government has failed to create credible atmosphere for holding the dialogue. The government also failed to realize that acceptable election and preparing fruitful national charter is not possible without Sheikh Hasina.

Ashraf observed that the country is passing through a very crucial period and only an elected democratic government can salvage the country from this situation and steer the nation towards democracy, stability and progress.

The meeting urged all democratic and non-communal forces to get united and join the AL's movement for realizing their six-point demand.

The meeting demanded of the caretaker government to take effective initiatives immediately for trying the war criminals and declaring them disqualified for the election.