Hasina's permanent release can create level playing field : AL leaders

FE Team | Published: September 15, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Awami League central leaders said Sunday that only permanent release of Sheikh Hasina and other leaders can pave the way for creating level playing field ahead of the country's stalled parliamentary polls, reports UNB.
They alleged that the government itself was destroying the ground of the level playing field by releasing what they said the champion corrupt persons Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman and acting indifferently in releasing the AL leaders.
AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said, "Our acting president Zillur Rahman many times tried to meet Sheikh Hasina in the makeshift jail, but had failed. But BNP and Jamaat leaders were allowed to talk to Khaleda Zia for three hours in jail with dinner."
He added, "Now our leader (Hasina) is abroad under parole for treatment and Khaleda Zia is holding (BNP) standing committee meeting in party office."
"With such double standard and discriminatory role, how the government wants to create level playing field in the country?" Tofail asked. He was addressing a discussion meeting arranged by Dhaka City Jubo League (North) at the Engineers Institute with Abul Bashar in the chair.
The discussion was arranged to press for Jubo League's demand of withdrawal of cases against Jubo League chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak and release of its general secretary Mirza Azam, also a former MP.
AL presidium members Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta, and Jubo League acting general secretary Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the discussion.
Tofail Ahmed said the government must immediately release Sheikh Hasina fully, as the AL would contest in the parliamentary polls under her direct and active leadership. He expressed frustration over the Election Commission's activities saying that on every occasion of the AL's three-phase meetings with the EC it seemed that the commission had agreed to the party's demand.
"Later, it has been seen that the Commission is implementing such decisions that were not taken reflecting the consultations with the political parties," he said.
Tofail reiterated the AL demand for full withdrawal of state of emergency before the polls to make these acceptable to the people and to the international community.
Amir Hossain Amu categorically said Sheikh Hasina would not sit with Khaleda Zia under anyone's dictation. "A free Sheikh Hasina only can sit with Khaleda."
He threatened a programme if Sheikh Hasina was not freed immediately.
Amu described the four advisers' meeting with only Khaleda Zia in her residence as mysterious saying that it might be the start of a conspiracy against the AL. "After temporary release, Sheikh Hasina together with her presidium members met the advisers. But Khaleda Zia personally talked to the four advisers - here lies the secret of the conspiracy," he said. Amu said the government and the evil forces must know that the AL has the power to foil all anti-state conspiracies.
Suranjit Sengupta asked the government to make it clear to the countrymen why Sheikh Hasina would have to sit with Fakhruddin Ahmed and Khaleda Zia.