The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Awami League would not participate in the Government-sponsored political dialogue or contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections without party chief Sheikh Hasina, said Zillur Rahman.

The AL Acting President was addressing the senior, mid-ranking and grassroots level leaders at the party's extended meeting at the Institute of Engineers in the capital yesterday.

He called for a tougher mass movement for unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina to create a positive atmosphere for holding the general elections.

Amid hoisting of the National Flag and playing the National Anthem Zillur Rahman and Syed Ashraful Islam, Acting General Secretary, inaugurated the meeting with a vow to keep the party united under Sheikh Hasina's leadership.

In the absence of the party President Sheikh Hasina, AL Acting President Zillur Rahman presided over the meeting.

"The Government was engaged in a conspiracy to disqualify Sheikh Hasina and to depose her from politics by involving her in false and fabricated cases. But we will resist the conspiracy through a mass upsurge." he said.

"We waited for a considerable period of time, but the Government did not pay heed to our demands. Our patience has crossed limits. There is no alternative but to go for tough action programme to get Sheikh Hasina released, as well as to realise our other demands. So it is clear that the Government is pushing us towards movement," he added.

Zillur urged the Government to implement the six-point demand to make the dialogue a success and end the political deadlock through holding an acceptable, free and neutral election.

The six-point demand divided into sub-sections includes withdrawal of state of emergency, lifting of all restrictions on politics, restoration of democratic and fundamental rights to create condition for free and fair election, withdrawal of false cases filed against the party leaders and activists, immediate release of all political leaders, ensuring transparency of the judiciary and stopping unwarranted interference in the mass media.

The AL also demanded giving due honour to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The trial of war criminals and prohibiting them from participating in the national elections were also two of the prominent demands.

Syed Ashraful Islam asked the leaders and activists of district and thana units to complete their respective councils and to conduct member recruitment drive to strengthen the party.

In a censure motion Ashraful said that a number of senior leaders including party chief Sheikh Hasina were suffering being victimised by the Government. The people of the country will not accept such inhumane treatment to the national leaders.

"We will finalise the decision whether we will join the ongoing dialogue and participate in the national election after holding meeting of the working committee," he said.

At the beginning of the meeting Abdul Mannan Khan, Office Secretary of AL, made obituary references to leaders, who were killed in political violence. One-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect.

Source said about 870 delegates of different fronts of the Awami League participated in the extended meeting. However, the chair for the president of the party remained empty, as Sheikh Hasina is behind bars.

The meeting was moderated by Asaduzzaman Noor, Public Secretary, amid tight security.