The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, now in London, was likely to hold a meeting yesterday with the visiting AL presidium members-Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta-to give instructions regarding participation in the forthcoming general elections, it is learnt.

Sources said Sheikh Hasina, who is taking treatment in USA and Canada reached London on Monday and staying with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana.

Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta are supposed to meet Hasina on their return from Brussels.

Sources said the AL leaders during their meeting would inform their party chief about the latest development in the political arena and convey message from an influential quarter.

The leaders would also discuss formation of grand alliance (mahajote), seat sharing with alliance partners and other election related matters; since Sheikh Hasina is already late to return to home after completion of her treatment. The AL president, expected to return later this month, would not get sufficient time to deal with the above issues.

Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta left Dhaka on Saturday at the invitation of British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and European Union

They were scheduled to attend a meeting with British Minister for Asia and Bangladesh Lord Mark Malloch Brown on October 6 and with members of EU parliamentary committee on Foreign and Development Affairs later.

They are also scheduled to hold talks with officials of the European Commission.

According to sources, the AL leaders during these meetings are likely to focus on the forthcoming elections, latest political situation and AL's position on participation in the polls.

Meanwhile, when contacted AL presidium members-Abdur Razzak and Begum Matia Chowdhury told The New Nation that they are not aware about the planned meeting with party chief in London.