AL chief barred from leaving for US

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Former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was debarred from leaving the country for the USA Friday night to see her daughter, report agencies.
Her lone daughter Saima Wajed Putul, now in Florida, is expecting a baby early next month.
The police reportedly asked immigration officials not to allow her board an Emirates flight at the Zia International Airport on the plea that investigation into extortion cases filed against her would be hampered in her absence.
Awami League's Industry and Commerce Secretary Lt Col (retd) Farooq Khan said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was not allowed to leave the country.
He said the government was informed of her scheduled visit and she was ready to leave the country Friday night, but the police protocol and security were not sent to escort her to the airport.
Khan said they came to know that the immigration at the airport was instructed not to allow her board the plane. Twelve platoons of additional police raised three-layer security walls in front of her house.
Scores of media crew and at least a dozen platoons of police kept vigil at Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi residence late Friday evening ahead of her scheduled 9.30pm flight for the United States, which she herself had called uncertain hours earlier, reports bdnews24.com.
Hasina called it a "big mistake" by the government.
At 8.53 pm, Hasina told senior correspondent of bdnews24.com Sumon Mahbub: "The promised police protection is not there. Twelve platoons of police are surrounding my home. Immigration has been told not to let me board."
Virtually confined inside her husband's home in the capital's Dhanmondi residential area, the Awami League chief was reached by phone by Sumon Mahbub as reporters and TV crew waited out in the open braving heavy rains.
"The government is making a big mistake by not letting me go," she told Mahbub.
bdnews24.com senior correspondent Kamran Reza Chowdhury and photographer Qamruzzaman, among the rain-soaked media crew, said at 8.50pm that a police officer had gone inside apparently to talk to Hasina.
Police did not let anyone pass the barricade they had put up for the last few days.
Earlier on the day talking to reporters, the Awami League (AL) President termed the cases against her false and fabricated, alleging that a conspiracy is being cooked up to keep her away from future elections.
"We've the right to serve people and the people have the right to get service, but conspiracy is being cooked up so that I can't participate in the election. This is nothing but a crooked design," she told reporters at her Sudha Sadan residence in the city's Dhanmondi area.
Hasina said she has heard that some 30 cases of extortion would be filed against her and businessmen from different companies like Pran, Akij Bidi and Sharif Melamine are being organised and their signatures collected forcibly to file the cases.
"Let them file 100 cases, let there be investigation. If I am proved guilty, let them punish me. But I know I didn't commit any wrong. Even then I know they may punish me through false cases," she said.
About the allegations of extortion against her, the Awami League chief said there is difference between extortion and donation, but they have "messed it up."
If someone voluntarily donates money, that is not extortion, she said, adding that donation is needed to run a party as government does not provide funds for political party and there is no law about this.
Responding to the extortion case filed against her by businessman Noor Ali, Hasina said he was an Awami League candidate for the stalled January 22 election. "When I refused to take Tk 500 million (50 crore), why should I take Tk 50 million (5 crore)?"
Citing "Bandhu Sabha" of the daily Prothom Alo to collect fund for helping the people and the Chief Adviser's appeal for relief money for the landslide victims in Chittagong, she asked whether these should be called extortion.
Hasina alleged that pressure was being put on lawyers not to provide legal aid to the accused. Terming the move as double standard, she said on the one hand the government wants to separate the judiciary and on the other it is trying to put pressure on lawyers.
Questioning the motive behind the extortion cases, the former prime minister said having found nothing against her, extortion cases are being filed after such a long time. "I can swear, I didn't seek anything throughout my personal and political life."
Referring to the two cases filed recently against her in Tejgaon and Gulshan police stations, she said she did not receive any notice from the government.
On reforms, Hasina said she raised the issue for the first time and made it popular. "Now I'm being taught about reforms! I am the greatest reformist," she said.
The Awami League president said if reforms could be brought about in her party, the president, presidium members, general secretary, joint secretaries and other office bearers would either have to hold party portfolio or ministerial job. "But to do this, politics should be allowed. Now it's a dual policy - some parties are under restriction, some are free."
She added: "We know political activities are banned. Indoor politics is restricted, but some people are conducting political activities. If they can do so, let me convene meeting of (AL) central committee and discuss all these matters. Let the politics be open. But around my house, Section 144 has been imposed disallowing presence of more than four people."
About the formation of a new party, Hasina said those who had been in the "dustbin of politics" are being picked up to launch a new party and a move is on to split the established parties. "But it should be remembered that politics cannot flourish by destroying political institutions."
She said each party has its manifesto and ideology and they would abide by those.
At about 6.15am, advocate Abdul Mannan Khan and advocate Rahmat Ali entered Sudha Sadan while retired colonel Faruk Khan went in 15 minutes later. Nobody was allowed in after them Friday.
Some Awami League leaders, including former lawmaker Dr Mizanul Haque, waited for a long time behind the police barricade.
Chief security officer at the Zia International Airport, Abdul Awal, said the Awami League had sent a letter to the director of the airport and the authorities took necessary steps.