The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League yesterday asked the government to withdraw all the cases against its president and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina as the party plans to jumpstart preparation for the parliamentary polls just after her return from the United States.

Awami League acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters that as Hasina is now granted bail in the last case that stood in the way, the AL would now try its best so that the court dismissed all the cases against her.

"Sheikh Hasina's bail is a good sign ahead of the election. From all documents, it has been proved that the cases filed against Sheikh Hasina were false and manufactured. Now we hope, before her return, government will withdraw her cases," he said.

"In no time after Sheikh Hasina returns home from abroad, we'll start preparing for the parliamentary polls," Ashraful Islam said.

He was talking to reporters when Swechhasebak League leaders led by their acting general secretary Matiur Rahman Mati came to meet AL acting president Zillur Rahman at his residence at noon.

Awami League presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Abdur Razzak, among others, addressed the brief gathering.

Syed Ashraful Islam informed the journalists about the AL's current thinking and plan for contesting the upcoming national elections, previously stalled following a political crisis over the election issues.

He said AL started contacting those people who were involved in electoral activities of the party in the last national elections.

"We are looking for a place to open media centre during the parliamentary polls," he told the journalists, indicating that Awami League is all agog about going to the polls, the schedule for which is expected anytime so soon.

Ashraf further said the grand alliance that was forged ahead of the stalled parliamentary polls would remain active in the upcoming election, too, while AL and the grand alliance will look for yet greater unity for election purposes.

"Our grand alliance will continue to exist-and we will also try to attain a far greater unity," he said, as reports said the centrist former ruling party is in search of more allies, even from the rightwing.

Asked about drawing religion-based parties in the grand alliance, Ashraful Islam said Islami Oikya Jote will be in the grand alliance "as they are anti-jamaat and pro-liberation."

But Ashraful hinted that the number of parties in the grand alliance may increase and decrease also.

Addressing the Swechhasebak League delegation, party's acting president Zillur Rahman accused the government of hatching conspiracy to bring the BNP-Jamaat alliance in power again.

"The BNP-Jamaat-led evil force was defeated by the country's people through the political changeover of 1/11. But now the caretaker government is trying to rehabilitate the fallen force," Zillur said.

He was also critical of the government for making a move to bring Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to the negotiation table. "Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda is not the same thing. The government should not weigh Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina on the same scales."

Abdur Razzak said the government is trying to undermine the dignity of Sheikh Hasina by comparing her with Khaleda.

Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed asked the government to immediately declare specific date and schedule of the general election.

They warned the government against doing any other experiment in the country and asked it to declare specific date for the long-awaited elections.