The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu yesterday once again demanded parliamentary election ahead of the upazila polls as the key responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold a free, fair and credible national election.

The AL leaders made the demand while addressing the party leaders and activists at an extended meeting organised by Tejgoan Thana Awami League at a local community center as part of month long programme announced by Dhaka City Awami League.

Demanding the unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina, Amu said, "AL is determined to participate in the national election under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina."

Calling on the leaders and activists to maintain unity for carrying on tough action movement he said, "The main strength of a political party is its unity and AL had been putting emphasis for maintaining party unity since its inception. That is why AL is confident of facing any kind of contingency."

Talking about grand alliance AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury pointed out that AL formed the grand alliance with the pro-liberation parties but it was a matter of great regret that the BNP formed four party alliance with the war criminals.

Another AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed criticised the Government for keeping Sheikh Hasina behind the bars for 11 months without any specific allegation. It was a violation of human rights, he mentioned.

Demanding the complete withdrawal of the state of emergency he said, "there is no history in the world of holding national election under emergency rule. So the Government should take immediate step for lifting of emergency for the sake of a free and fair national election, he noted.

He warned the Government to shed the idea of holding upazila election before the national election.

AL presidium Member Matia Chowdhury said the Government is showing reluctance for lifting of the state of emergency only to harass the political leaders by filing false and fabricated cases against them.

She also expressed her party's firm stand for boycotting polls under the state of emergency.

AL central Organising Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Central Office Secretary Abdul Mannan, central Law Secretary Shahara Khatun, Dhaka City Awami League acting president MA Aziz and acting General Secretary Advocate Kamrul Islam, among others, spoke while Assadujjaman Khan Kamal, president of Tejgoan Thana Awami league, presided over the meeting.