AL for general election before local body polls
Friday, 21 March 2008
Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) should be more focused on holding the parliamentary election eschewing dillydallying tactics, reports UNB.
Talking to the reporters he said Awami League wants the parliamentary election first, and requested the election commissioners to talk about the parliamentary election and stop pattering about the local body polls.
Ashraful who chaired a meeting of the Awami League secretaries at its Dhanmondi office alleged that the caretaker government is also dillydallying with the treatment of ailing party chief Sheikh Hasina.
He demanded Hasina's unconditional release and sending her to the US for her ear treatment. "Awami League sent an application to the Chief Adviser with a request to release Sheikh Hasina and arrange appropriate treatment for her abroad…Please honour our letter." Ashraful said.
Ashraful said Awami League would not attend the National Independence Day reception hosted by the President at Bangabhaban on March 26, as the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and war-criminals were also invited to it.
"We, in principle, have decided that we will never join any programme that would be attended by the Jammat leaders and war-criminals," he said.
The secretaries' meeting expressed concern about the soaring prices of essentials, and said the government should take steps forthwith to bring down the prices.
The meeting also accused the government of imposing restriction on trade union activities, and said the country's image is being tarnished for it. "It is against the ILO convention treaty, and the government should lift the ban on trade unions from today."
Responding to a query about launching any movement for the release of Sheikh Hasina, he said the party is respectful to the sentiment of the AL leaders and workers, and programmes will be announced at appropriate time.
Ashraful said the party would hold meetings with the division-level leaders to know their opinions about the evolving situation and how to ensure the release of Sheikh Hasina. The AL central working committee would fix the dates of the meetings on March 29.
Meeting sources said that the secretaries and assistant secretaries holding different posts urged the central leaders to start movement to release Sheikh Hasina.
Talking to the reporters he said Awami League wants the parliamentary election first, and requested the election commissioners to talk about the parliamentary election and stop pattering about the local body polls.
Ashraful who chaired a meeting of the Awami League secretaries at its Dhanmondi office alleged that the caretaker government is also dillydallying with the treatment of ailing party chief Sheikh Hasina.
He demanded Hasina's unconditional release and sending her to the US for her ear treatment. "Awami League sent an application to the Chief Adviser with a request to release Sheikh Hasina and arrange appropriate treatment for her abroad…Please honour our letter." Ashraful said.
Ashraful said Awami League would not attend the National Independence Day reception hosted by the President at Bangabhaban on March 26, as the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and war-criminals were also invited to it.
"We, in principle, have decided that we will never join any programme that would be attended by the Jammat leaders and war-criminals," he said.
The secretaries' meeting expressed concern about the soaring prices of essentials, and said the government should take steps forthwith to bring down the prices.
The meeting also accused the government of imposing restriction on trade union activities, and said the country's image is being tarnished for it. "It is against the ILO convention treaty, and the government should lift the ban on trade unions from today."
Responding to a query about launching any movement for the release of Sheikh Hasina, he said the party is respectful to the sentiment of the AL leaders and workers, and programmes will be announced at appropriate time.
Ashraful said the party would hold meetings with the division-level leaders to know their opinions about the evolving situation and how to ensure the release of Sheikh Hasina. The AL central working committee would fix the dates of the meetings on March 29.
Meeting sources said that the secretaries and assistant secretaries holding different posts urged the central leaders to start movement to release Sheikh Hasina.