AL decides to join
Saturday, 28 June 2008
In a major shift in its strategy, Awami League Friday decided to join the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities slated for August 4, reports UNB.
Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman announced the decision Friday night after a two-day meeting of the party's central working committee held at its Dhanmondi office.
'We've unanimously decided to take part in the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities for the sake of establishing peace and democracy,' he said in a briefing.
He expressed hope that the government would lift the state of emergency before the elections.
Earlier, Awami League top-brass, including Zillur Rahman, had termed the announcement of local-body election schedule conspiratorial and farce.
The AL leadership alleged that holding of the local elections would hamper the general election. Some presidium members had stated that no election can be held under the state of emergency.
Zillur deplored that despite repeated appeals, the government did not yet withdrew the emergency imposed on January 11 last year. 'We'd also raised the demand during their two sittings with the Election Commission,' he noted.
Zillur demanded announcement of schedule for the general election billed for December and unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA after her interim release for eight weeks on June 11.
He said the Awami League president would soon return to the country from the USA, but feared that she might be arrested again. 'We want her unconditional release,' he mentioned.
He also demanded that ailing Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim be sent abroad immediately for his better treatment, as he is not getting proper treatment at LabAid Hospital.
He deplored that despite assurances by the government, Nasim was not sent abroad. Nasim suffered brain stroke recently.
Acting Awami League president Zillur Rahman announced the decision Friday night after a two-day meeting of the party's central working committee held at its Dhanmondi office.
'We've unanimously decided to take part in the elections to four city corporations and nine municipalities for the sake of establishing peace and democracy,' he said in a briefing.
He expressed hope that the government would lift the state of emergency before the elections.
Earlier, Awami League top-brass, including Zillur Rahman, had termed the announcement of local-body election schedule conspiratorial and farce.
The AL leadership alleged that holding of the local elections would hamper the general election. Some presidium members had stated that no election can be held under the state of emergency.
Zillur deplored that despite repeated appeals, the government did not yet withdrew the emergency imposed on January 11 last year. 'We'd also raised the demand during their two sittings with the Election Commission,' he noted.
Zillur demanded announcement of schedule for the general election billed for December and unconditional release of party chief Sheikh Hasina, now in the USA after her interim release for eight weeks on June 11.
He said the Awami League president would soon return to the country from the USA, but feared that she might be arrested again. 'We want her unconditional release,' he mentioned.
He also demanded that ailing Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim be sent abroad immediately for his better treatment, as he is not getting proper treatment at LabAid Hospital.
He deplored that despite assurances by the government, Nasim was not sent abroad. Nasim suffered brain stroke recently.