AL demands Hasina's release before Eid
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Awami League Friday demanded release of detained party president and ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of Eid, reports UNB.
"It's good that Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching… it'll be more joyful for us if we get our president Sheikh Hasina amidst us," said AL acting president Zillur Rahman, expecting that Hasina would be freed soon.
Referring to internal disputes in the party purportedly over reform issues, Zillur said there is no conflict among the Awami League leaders.
He assured that the party would never get divided as long as he leads the party. "Even I can sacrifice myself for its unity," he vowed.
The acting president was speaking at a pre-Iftar briefing at Imperial Hotel at Bangabandhu Avenue. Dhaka City unit Awami League organised the Ifter party.
AL leaders Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chawdhury, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, vice-principal Abdur Shahid, Advocate Quamrul Islam, Mukul Chowdhury and Faiz Uddin Mia and Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, Workers Party leader Bimol Biswas, JSD leader Mainuddin Khan Badal and Gonotantri Party leader Nurul Islam, among others, were present at the Iftar party.
However, Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed urged Friday the Election Commission (EC) and the political parties to compromise over reform issues in the greater interest of the next general election.
"Rigid stands would bring no good result. So, the EC and political parties will have to make concessions over the demands raised on the opening of politics and holding elections keeping black money holders and terrorists at bay," Tofail told a private TV channel.
He said it cannot be expected that the EC's all plans could be implemented and similarly all demands of the political parties cannot be accommodated."
Tofail, who has been asked to coordinate with the components of the AL-led 14-party alliance, said everybody needs to help the EC implement its roadmap so that the next general election is not interrupted.
"And the EC will have to take such decisions through the dialogue which will be accepted to all," he said.
About the recent list of 35 corruption suspects released by the Anti-Corruption Commission, including his name, Tofael said, "I've accepted it because the ACC can ask anyone to submit his wealth statement. "I've never betrayed with Bangabandhu's ideology and principles in my life. Awami League is the part and parcel of my life," Tofail said.
The former Commerce Minister admitted that as a human being he has failures and mistakes as everyone has, and urged the people not to misunderstand him as his name is found on the list of corruption suspects.
"It's good that Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching… it'll be more joyful for us if we get our president Sheikh Hasina amidst us," said AL acting president Zillur Rahman, expecting that Hasina would be freed soon.
Referring to internal disputes in the party purportedly over reform issues, Zillur said there is no conflict among the Awami League leaders.
He assured that the party would never get divided as long as he leads the party. "Even I can sacrifice myself for its unity," he vowed.
The acting president was speaking at a pre-Iftar briefing at Imperial Hotel at Bangabandhu Avenue. Dhaka City unit Awami League organised the Ifter party.
AL leaders Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chawdhury, Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, vice-principal Abdur Shahid, Advocate Quamrul Islam, Mukul Chowdhury and Faiz Uddin Mia and Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattacharya, Workers Party leader Bimol Biswas, JSD leader Mainuddin Khan Badal and Gonotantri Party leader Nurul Islam, among others, were present at the Iftar party.
However, Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed urged Friday the Election Commission (EC) and the political parties to compromise over reform issues in the greater interest of the next general election.
"Rigid stands would bring no good result. So, the EC and political parties will have to make concessions over the demands raised on the opening of politics and holding elections keeping black money holders and terrorists at bay," Tofail told a private TV channel.
He said it cannot be expected that the EC's all plans could be implemented and similarly all demands of the political parties cannot be accommodated."
Tofail, who has been asked to coordinate with the components of the AL-led 14-party alliance, said everybody needs to help the EC implement its roadmap so that the next general election is not interrupted.
"And the EC will have to take such decisions through the dialogue which will be accepted to all," he said.
About the recent list of 35 corruption suspects released by the Anti-Corruption Commission, including his name, Tofael said, "I've accepted it because the ACC can ask anyone to submit his wealth statement. "I've never betrayed with Bangabandhu's ideology and principles in my life. Awami League is the part and parcel of my life," Tofail said.
The former Commerce Minister admitted that as a human being he has failures and mistakes as everyone has, and urged the people not to misunderstand him as his name is found on the list of corruption suspects.