The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff reporter

The Awami league will not sit in dialogue with the Chief Adviser without party Chief Sheikh Hasina, said the party leaders at a discussion meeting at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city marking Sheikh Hasina's homecoming day yesterday.

They said, they would take decision about joining the government-sponsored dialogue after discussing it with party chief Sheikh Hasina after her release from Jail.

The central leaders asked the field level leaders and activists to take the oath to join street agitation that would be launched anytime for releasing her.

Several hundred leaders and activists of different wings of Awami league joined the meeting to express solidarity with their party central leaders to go for tougher movement to make Sheikh Hasina Free.

The party will go on mass hunger strike programme throughout the country on May 20.

Zillur Rahman, Acting President of Awami League sent a written statement, as he was absent in the meeting because of his illness.

In the statement he said, the upcoming dialogue would not be fruitful without Sheikh Hasina. Release of her is the one and only way to resolve the prevailing crisis of the country.

He also asked the party activists to be united to go for a tougher movement.

Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said AL would decide about their joining the dialogue after implementation of its six-point demand.

"Sheikh Hasina's unconditional release is our prime demand and after freeing her, we will take the decision." He added.

Presidium member Tofail Ahmed observed that without Hasina's presence, dialogue and election would be meaningless and warned that any move for holding election without Hasina would be resisted.

Presidium member Suranjit Sengupta criticized the Chief Advisor for his remarks about a national charter and said it would not be possible under Bangladesh Constitution. "Talking about national charter sidetracking the Constitution is violation of the Constitution," he said.

Abdur Razzak, Presidium Member of Awami League said, the fundamentalists group created anarchy in the excuse of religion. But no case was filed in this connection. This proved that the Government is patronising the ill-motivated group.

Matia Chowdhury, Presidium Member of Awami League, said the caretaker government has failed to rule the country successfully, as the crises of food, electricity, and gas are intensifying day by day.

The Government has also failed to ensure the security of national assets, as the artefacts were stolen from the airport. But no accused has yet been punished till now, She added.

Syed Ashraful Islam, Acting General Secretary of Awami League alleged that the Government never provided proper treatment for Sheikh Hasina. She got admitted to the Square Hospital several times but did not receive proper treatment. It is the violation of human rights.

He said the party would take a historical decision from its extended meeting to be held on May 26.

Party leaders Mukul Bose, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Mannan, Abdur Rahman, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Yafes Osman, MA Aziz and Advocate Qumrul Islam also spoke while Syed Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of Awami League presided over the meeting in.