The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) Acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday expressed his doubt about the trial of the persons who orchestrated August 21 grenade arrack on the AL rally in 2004.

He said that the Caretaker Government was trying to stage a drama over this issue, as it has resorted to dally-dallying tactics to punish the masterminds of the attack.

Zillur placed this allegation while addressing reporters after a meeting with the "Bangladesh Gram Doctor Kallayn Shamity" at his Gulshan residence.

When asked what would be the party's stand if the Government arranged the upazila election before the national election he said, "We are repeatedly demanding holding of national election ahead of any other election. If the government arranges upazila election first, we will resist through movement in a democratic manner."

About the samity he said, "The rural doctors are serving the people through providing treatment door to door. The Government should patronise the organisation for the sake of rural health."

He blamed the immediate past BNP-Jamaat Government for destroying the organization.

He assured the leaders of the organisation to fulfil their demands if AL was voted to power.

AL leader and former minister Engineer Mosharaf Hossain presented flower to the Acting party president Zillur Rahman.

"The army-backed caretaker government has failed to uproot corruption and terrorism, as the real corrupts and the terror are staying abroad. They are only harassing the politicians to spoil their political career," Mosharaf alleged.

He also termed the Caretaker Government unconstitutional, as they are staying in power for about two years instead of 90 days.

Dr. Abdus Sattar, President of the samity, alleged that the leaders of Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB), tried to destroy this 30 years old organisation by torturing the samity members in different ways.

He also urged the government to take punitive action against the people who harassed them during the BNP-Jamaat government.

AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta, who also spoke to reporters after the meeting, pointed to the experience of Pakistan, warning that local leaders should pay heed to the fate of Pakistan's Musharraf and take "an about-turn towards democracy."

AL Presidium Abdur Razzak and other senior leaders were present in the meeting.