The New Nation - Internet Edition

Special Correspondent

The ruling Awami League (AL), sent a four-member delegation to BNP's council session at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), yesterday. BNP had earlier sent its delegation to AL's council.

AL's Deputy Publicity Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil led the delegation carrying a message of goodwill from AL chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was invited to attend the function as a guest.

"We, on behalf of Awami League, wish all success of the BNP council convened to reorganise the party," said Ashim Kumar Ukil while addressing at the opening session of the council which was formally inaugurated by party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday morning. Ashim Kumar Ukil, a former student leader, related the significance of the conference in December, saying that it was the month when the nation attained its independence in 1971. "It is the month when the country won victory in the united struggle against the autocratic regime of the 90s," Ashim Ukil said without naming HM Ershad, against whom Ashim himself had fought on the streets.

Ashim Ukil hoped that a reorganised and stronger BNP would contribute towards strengthening democracy , galvanise the spirit of liberation and create a non-communal society in Bangladesh.

Referring to 1/11 changeover he said: "We freed the country from autocracy in 1990 through joint movements. The 1/11 took place as the country was still not freed from autocracy despite elimination of an autocrat."

Among the political leaders who spoke at the programme were Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, IOJ secretary general Abdul Latif Nezami, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) secretary general Shamim Al Mamun, Khelafat Majlish chairman Maulana Mohammad Ishaq and JAGPA chief Shafiul Alam Pradhan.