Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) acting President Zillur Rahman yesterday reiterated that the AL would not take part in the upcoming parliamentary election without the release of detained party President Sheikh Hasina.

“Our first and principal demand is that Sheikh Hasina will have to be freed. We hope that the caretaker government will resolve the prevailing political crisis through releasing her,” Zillur said addressing a book-launching programme.

The book titled ‘The first elected mayor of Dhaka, Mohammad Hanif: Words about his struggles in life’ by journalist Mostak Hossain was unveiled by the acting AL chief on the occasion of Dhaka’s turning into 400 years.

Mohammad Hanif Memorial Foundation organised the programme at Dhaka Sheraton chaired by Sayeed Khokon, Hanif’s only son.

Addressing the programme as chief guest, Zillur paid rich tribute to Hanif, also a former president of Dhaka city unit AL, and prayed for the salvation of his departed soul.

AL presidium member Amir Hossain Amu said that Sheikh Hasina could survive the grenade attack due to Hanif’s sacrifice. The former mayor had a lot of contribution in bringing the party to power in 1996 as well, he added.

Another presidium member Suranjit Sengupta asked the government to announce the specific date for parliamentary election through concluding the official dialogue with the political parties by this month.

Suranjit also demanded the government allow resuming of the political activities across the country.

Presiding over the programme, Sayeed Khokon, one of the organising secretaries of city unit AL, demanded that the government form ‘Metropolitan Government’ for Dhaka before the next mayor election to ensure facilities to the city-dwellers.

Demanding release of Sheikh Hasina, he also asked the government to restore all fundamental rights of the people.

Acting AL general secretary Syed Ahsraful Islam, organising secretary Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed, Dhaka city unit acting president MA Aziz and Mostak Hossain also spoke at the programme.