AL to resist any polls under emergency
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Acting President of the Awami League (AL) Zillur Rahman categorically said Saturday that AL would neither take part nor allow others to take part in any election under State of Emergency.
He said this while addressing a gathering of leaders and activists of AL and its female units who observed a six-hour token hunger strike as part of an AL-sponsored nationwide fasting programme at the party's Dhanmondi office, reports UNB.
"The political parties have been demanding the lifting of State of Emergency fully for long. But the government's stand remains unchanged. We want to say one thing clearly that AL will neither take part nor let any party to take part in any election under the emergency law," Mr Zillur said about his party's latest stand.
The AL arranged the hunger strike from 11am to 4pm to protest price hike of essentials and demand permanent release of AL chief and former premier Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole for treatment.
Among others, party presidium members Mr Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Mr Tofail Ahmed and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury addressed the gathering.
Mr Zillur in his address termed the government's move to arrange upazila election before the much-expected parliamentary polls as a 'conspiracy' to impede restoration of democracy in the country.
He demanded immediate unconditional and permanent release of the AL president, Sheikh Hasina, and withdrawal of all 'false' cases against her.
"If Sheikh Hasina is not released soon, country's people will not tolerate the dilly-dallying."
Mr Zillur observed that a 'silent famine' was prevailing in the country following abnormal price hike of essentials.
Addressing the programme, Mr Amu said if the government did not release Sheikh Hasina peacefully, the people through movement would compel the government to do so.
He said elections under the State of Emergency would not be acceptable to the people.
He said this while addressing a gathering of leaders and activists of AL and its female units who observed a six-hour token hunger strike as part of an AL-sponsored nationwide fasting programme at the party's Dhanmondi office, reports UNB.
"The political parties have been demanding the lifting of State of Emergency fully for long. But the government's stand remains unchanged. We want to say one thing clearly that AL will neither take part nor let any party to take part in any election under the emergency law," Mr Zillur said about his party's latest stand.
The AL arranged the hunger strike from 11am to 4pm to protest price hike of essentials and demand permanent release of AL chief and former premier Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole for treatment.
Among others, party presidium members Mr Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Mr Tofail Ahmed and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury addressed the gathering.
Mr Zillur in his address termed the government's move to arrange upazila election before the much-expected parliamentary polls as a 'conspiracy' to impede restoration of democracy in the country.
He demanded immediate unconditional and permanent release of the AL president, Sheikh Hasina, and withdrawal of all 'false' cases against her.
"If Sheikh Hasina is not released soon, country's people will not tolerate the dilly-dallying."
Mr Zillur observed that a 'silent famine' was prevailing in the country following abnormal price hike of essentials.
Addressing the programme, Mr Amu said if the government did not release Sheikh Hasina peacefully, the people through movement would compel the government to do so.
He said elections under the State of Emergency would not be acceptable to the people.