The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Awami League yesterday instantly rejected the BNP's proposal for launching a united movement to release their respective party chiefs-Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia-and overcome the current political crisis.

The Awami League (AL) Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, rejected the proposal mooted again yesterday by BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain at a press conference earlier in the day.

AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Isalm disclosed this, while briefing journalists yesterday evening after a meeting of the party Presidium at the Gulshan residence of its Acting President Zillur Rahman, who presided over the sitting.

"There is no possibility of launching united or simultaneous movement

with the BNP, which had killed people, promoted fundamentalism and militancy when in power," he said

Spurning the overtures Ashraf said, "The Awami League will never forge unity with the patron (BNP) of the war criminals and fundamentalist forces."

He also blamed the BNP-Jamaat alliance for the January 1 (2007) /11, as they tried to hold the January 22 general elections through their hand-picked partisan Election Commission.

He said the AL has unity with 14-party alliance and the people. "So, we don't need unity with others," he asserted.

Ashraful said Delwar was a seasoned politician and he worked with him for 11 years in Parliament. He made the appeal personally. "I don't want to rebuke him though he attacked me personally," he said.

Ashraf made it clear that Delwar's words are not enough to make unity. "Moreover," he said, "Awami League and BNP have basic ideological differences and there is no point for such unity."

He was also critical of the crackdown across the country and aid, "The Government is intentionally harassing the people specially the Awami League leaders and activists to gag their voice, as they sought for the release of the detained political leaders, including Sheikh Hasina in the party's extended meeting on May 26."

"The crackdown is designed to make the political situation murky and this may cause to prolong the political deadlock in the country," he warned, adding, "The Government is arresting the AL leaders and activists to make the dialogue fruitless and to make the upcoming parliamentary election uncertain."

He termed the case filed against AL Presidum member Tofail Ahmed false and fabricated. "The Government has filed the case to tarnish Tofail Ahmed's image and to disgrace him politically and socially."

Asked about the issues of the presidium meeting he said, "We have discussed about the mass-signature campaign that is scheduled to begin tomorrow and the tour programmes of the Presidium members across the country."

All the Presidium members were present at the meeting, which was started at 6.30pm and ended at 9.00pm.