Debates surface within AL over holding talks with EC

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Debates clearly surfaced within Awami League (AL) in recent time over holding dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) and participating in next year's general elections keeping party chief Sheikh Hasina in jail, reports UNB.
Difference of opinion is also evident between pro- and anti-reform leaders over the course of freeing the party chief who was arrested on July 16 in an "extortion" case.
The disputes on the issues turned a bit serious when presidium member Amir Hossain Amu made his observations on return from Singapore last week.
Party's acting president Zillur Rahman rejected Amu's remarks as his personal opinion and claimed that the remarks Amu made were not in line with the party's decisions.
However, the opposite stance of Zillur and Amu has seemingly disappointed Awami League's grassroots leaders and workers.
Although Amu left for Singapore with his ailing wife on Thursday, followers of Zillur and Amu are trying to mobilise support from party leaders and workers.
Zillur, who commands majority views of the party, wants to carry out legal fight to free Hasina first before joining the elections while Amu's followers want to join both dialogue with the EC and the general elections scheduled to be held before the end of December next year.
Amu's theory is that the party should sit with the EC to discuss electoral reforms as they don't want to take any future blame for non-cooperation with the EC or for delaying the elections.
On the other hand, Zillur said they would not take part in the EC's dialogue until the ban on indoor politics is lifted.
Zillur said AL would not participate in any election unless the party chief is released. But Amu said the party should participate and win the election to free Hasina.
Amu also suggested that if Hasina quits the post of party president voluntarily under the changed political situation, she would command more respect.
He said Hasina was elected the party president because she is the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
But, on Thursday, Zillur said there is no dispute within AL on such issues and also ruled out any possibility of split in the party.
"There may be different opinions among our leaders and workers but that will not lead to any split," he said.
Earlier, presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta spelt out reform proposals separately and recommended joint leadership in the party.
They also suggested that the president and the general secretary would be barred from holding the posts for more than two successive terms.
However, the pro-reform leaders kept mum after the arrest of Hasina. Rather, they agreed to continue their efforts unitedly to secure her release.
Another presidium member Motia Chowdhury, who is critical of Amu-Razzak-Tofail's moves, alleged that the reformist leaders are responsible for the arrest of Hasina.
After Hasina's arrest, Zillur is trying to bring all party leaders and workers to a united stance to ensure the release of the party chief. Pro-reformist leaders also expressed their solidarity with Zillur.
Most grassroots level leaders and workers want that the party leadership should take a strong position to free Hasina.