Reformist AL leaders fall prey to wrath of Hasina faithfuls
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Reformist Awami League (AL) leaders Wednesday fell into a furore triggered by several hundred mid-ranking partymen as they went to attend their first central working committee (CWC) meeting at the Dhanmondi office of the party after relaxation of the ban on politics, reports UNB.
As the angry demonstrators chanted anti-reform slogans, kicked cars and roughed up reformist leaders, acting AL president Zillur Rahman told reporters that the meeting demanded 'unconditional release' of the detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.
The meeting that lasted about 45 minutes from 4:10 pm also decided to carry on legal fight to free the party chief and ex-PM, Hasina, arrested on July 16 in an extortion case amid the ongoing purge.
Zillur, who presided over the meeting, said the working committee also demanded release of all the arrested AL leaders, including its general secretary Abdul Jalil.
He thanked the caretaker government for lifting ban on indoor politics but demanded withdrawal of all conditions from indoor politics and removal of restrictions on political activities at all levels, including district and upazila.
The meeting urged the government to bring prices of essentials down to reasonable levels on the eve of the Ramadan.
Zillur said the meeting expressed concern over the second spell of flooding and urged party workers to stand by the affected people.
Party sources said about 38 members of the committee available in the capital attended the meeting. Presidium members Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Begum Motia Chowdhury and Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser were, among others, present.
As the angry demonstrators chanted anti-reform slogans, kicked cars and roughed up reformist leaders, acting AL president Zillur Rahman told reporters that the meeting demanded 'unconditional release' of the detained party chief Sheikh Hasina.
The meeting that lasted about 45 minutes from 4:10 pm also decided to carry on legal fight to free the party chief and ex-PM, Hasina, arrested on July 16 in an extortion case amid the ongoing purge.
Zillur, who presided over the meeting, said the working committee also demanded release of all the arrested AL leaders, including its general secretary Abdul Jalil.
He thanked the caretaker government for lifting ban on indoor politics but demanded withdrawal of all conditions from indoor politics and removal of restrictions on political activities at all levels, including district and upazila.
The meeting urged the government to bring prices of essentials down to reasonable levels on the eve of the Ramadan.
Zillur said the meeting expressed concern over the second spell of flooding and urged party workers to stand by the affected people.
Party sources said about 38 members of the committee available in the capital attended the meeting. Presidium members Syeda Zohra Tajuddin, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Begum Motia Chowdhury and Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser were, among others, present.