AL for common stance with its allies

Trackback URL

Download PDF

Awami League (AL) plans to take a stance common to other components of the 14-party coalition during the proposed dialogue by the government with political parties and the issues to be discussed there.

However, the release of detained AL President Sheikh Hasina, also the top leader of the coalition, would not be the first priority in the coalition agenda during the dialogue like the AL, sources said.

To decide about its position in the talks, AL presidium sits at 6:30pm today at party’s acting president Zillur Rahman’s Gulshan residence in the capital.

Meanwhile, Dhaka City unit of the AL yesterday directed its 100 wards and all thana unit leaders to prepare resolution for constitutional movements demanding release of their detained party chief.

Party insiders said that Hasina has strictly directed the party leaders not to go for any kind of movement so that no ‘unwanted’ forces could assume power through an undemocratic way or the current interim government could stay in power for a long time with this excuse.

The issues on which the 14-party is likely to take common position are holding a free, fair and credible election, restoring democracy as soon as possible, bringing the war criminals to justice and barring them from contesting any polls and lifting of state of emergency.

After reaching a decision in the presidium meeting, the AL will seek government’s position and the agenda of the talks formally.

On Tuesday, Health Adviser MM Shawkat Ali made a phone call to AL leader Motia Chowdhury asking for AL’s position over the proposed dialogue.

Today’s meeting might assign a senior leader for maintaining contact with the leaders of the 14-party coalition and to reach a consensus over different issues to be discussed with the government in the dialogue.

Talking to The Daily Star, AL presidium member Motia Chowdhury and acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said that they want to have an integrated approach towards the dialogue and so they would talk with their allies on the issues to be discussed.

Ashraf also said that they would have a collective speech over the Election Commission’s redrawing of the parliamentary constituencies from today’s meeting.

Workers’ Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haque Inu told The Daily Star that they would discuss the matter with each other in the alliance as soon as they get formal proposals from government and take a common stance.

DHAKA CITY AL’S MEETING

An extended meeting of AL city unit held at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue fixed seven days for ward units and 20 days for thana units to prepare the resolution for movements demanding release of Sheikh Hasina.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, acting general secretary of AL city unit Advocate Qamrul Islam said they would hand over the resolution to the AL central committee after preparing it.

The city unit in last month took a resolution seeking their right from the central committee to go for movement to free Hasina, but the AL central committee did not respond to it.

“We think that we should go for constitutional movements besides continuing legal battle to free our leader,” Qamrul said.

The meeting also decided to hold special prayers at every mosque in the city after Juma prayers today for Hasina’s release.

Leave a Reply