The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina will return home today 8:00am from London after staying abroad for five months for treatment.

The party leaders and activists have taken preparation to accord her a grand reception.

Party source said thousands of activists will stand on both sides of the road from Zia International Airport to Sudha Sadan of Dhanmondi.

Dhaka City Awami League yesterday held an extended meeting for the preparation of the reception.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu told lakhs of people would be mobilised for the reception. He said, "AL will win the forthcoming elections under the leadership of Sheikh Haisna."

The politics of fundamentalism will come to an end through the party's election victory," Amu said.

Another presidium member Tofail Ahmed said the scheduled December 18 election would be "a repeat of the 1970 general elections" when the AL got majority seats in the then Pakistan National Assembly under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On her return home Sheikh Hasina will have to grapple with many thorny issues before the general election. These include nomination of candidates and formation of grand alliance as part of election preparations.

Sheikh Hasina was released on parole on June 11 under an executive order on medical grounds and left for USA on June 12.

During her stay in the US, Hasina twice met US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs Richard Boucher.

She was granted bail in all cases against her and was cleared of extortion charges pressed by businessman Noor Ali on Wednesday.