The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium member Amir Hossain Amu yesterday said that during his visit to Brussels and London he could not meet with party chief Sheikh Hasina as she was busy with family affairs.

Amu was talking to reporters at his residence on his return home at the end of his 11-day visit to Brussels and London where he held meetings with the European Commission officials. Another AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupta accompanied him. Amu said, " I talked to her over telephone. During the telephonic talks Hasina gave guidelines on some vital issues such as party strategy ahead of general elections, grand alliance and distribution of seats among allies.

Replying to a question, Amu said Suranjit and himself attended meetings at the European Institution with the permission of Hasina.

He informed that they held a series of extensive meetings with the EU officials including James Moran, External Relations Director for Asia, as well as Helen Campbell, head of unit for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Mrs Hernadez, Desk officer Bangladesh.

"During these meetings we made it clear that we are ready and willing to face long-awaited national election," he said.

Amu said that the EU delegates asked him to know about latest political development and the upcoming general election.

He further said during the meetings with the EC Commission officials they raised the issues of unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina, complete withdrawal of state of emergency and deferment of the upazila polls by at least 45 days after the national elections.

Expansion of trade, export of frozen fish from Bangladesh to EU countries and co-operation in the field of textile also figured prominently during our talks, he noted.

He blamed the government for lobbying in the international field for lingering state of emergency.

He was also critical of the government for holding meeting with a person like Ali Ahasan Mujahid, Secretary General of Jamaat-e- Islam, who is evading arrest. "The government itself is irresponsible for the state of the law and order," he observed.