AL won't go to polls under emergency, sans Hasina

---

Awami League's acting president Zillur Rahman Sunday categorically declared that without a free Sheikh Hasina and under the state of emergency the party wouldn't participate in the December 18 polls, reports UNB.
Taking a hard stand on the two issues, he asked all Awami League leaders and workers to take an "oath" that without Sheikh Hasina and under the state of emergency they wouldn't go to the polls, come what may.
"Take the oath that we will not take part in the elections without Sheikh Hasina and under the state of emergency," the acting party chief said while addressing a rally at the city's Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh in the afternoon.
Awami League presidium-member Amir Hossain Amu at the meeting set October 30 as the last date for freeing Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA on parole. "Otherwise," he threatened, "tough programmes would be thrown to clinch her release."
Awami League Sunday arranged countrywide rallies demanding release of the party chief, Sheikh Hasina, and withdrawal of all cases against her.
Awami League presidium members Tofail Ahmed, Abdur Razzak and Matia Chowdhury, and acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, among others, also addressed the rally.