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Download PDF Awami League (AL) yesterday directed its national and district-level leaders to prepare for a movement to force the government to meet its six-point demand including release of its President Sheikh Hasina to ensure her presence in the ongoing dialogue.
Attending an extended meeting of the party yesterday, the grassroots level leaders urged the party not to participate in the talks with the government or parliamentary polls without Hasina. They also asked for tougher agitation programmes including hartals and blockade to press home their demands.
“From this podium, I declare that taking the people with us we will compel the government to realise our demands,” said AL acting President Zillur Rahman.
“However, you will have to be ready for whatever comes along–movement or election,” he told the party leaders.
Calling on all to unite in efforts to free Hasina the way Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was freed from the through a mass uprising in 1969.
The AL extended meeting, the largest political programme since the state of emergency was declared on January 11 last year, began at 10:00am and continued till late at night.
Held at the city’s Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, it is the first in eight years. In a gesture of respect for Sheikh Hasina, a chair was kept empty on the stage all along the meeting presided over by Zillur Rahman.
The party high command announced a set of organisational guidelines for the district- and national-level leaders to follow.
The AL will decide whether to join the dialogue and the general election without its president on the basis of recommendations placed at yesterday’s meeting attended by 870 delegates including presidents and general secretaries of 74 organisational districts, former lawmakers, members of the Advisory Council, National Committee, and representatives of Dhaka city AL and front organisations.
Several thousand activists of AL and its front organisations thronged the IEB premises and chanted slogans for Hasina’s release. They brought out processions on the Matshya Bhaban-Shahbagh Road, disrupting vehicular movement on the busy thoroughfare.
Addressing the gathering, acting AL chief Zillur Rahman said this government seems to be hell-bent on having Hasina disqualified from the election after conviction in false cases, he said.
“To resist injustice, there’s no alternative to movement. We have long been showing patience. But the government is pushing us towards movement,” he said.
Zillur said good sense will prevail and the government will implement the six-point demand that includes lifting of the state of emergency and trial of war criminals.
Zillur cautioned his party leaders against conspiracy to split the party.
At the meeting, AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam placed a report on the status of the organisation.
“I think it’s impossible to free Hasina without a movement as what’s going in the name of trial is a farce” he said, adding that they would take part in both the dialogue and election under her leadership.
The acting AL general secretary moved a motion condemning the arrest of Sheikh Hasina and other leaders and false cases against them.
Publicity Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor moderated the meeting and Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan read out obituary references.
Zillur Rahman and Syed Ashraful Islam inaugurated the meeting through hoisting the national and party flags. A huge contingent of police was deployed around the IEB to avert untoward incidents
ORGANISATIONAL GUIDELINES
Zillur read out the guidelines for the district and other units. Those say all tiers of the party will have to be involved in drawing up organisational plans through meetings and councils, party office has to be opened regularly, and measures should be taken to identify organisational problems and ways to resolve those.
Democracy and tolerance will have to be practised while transparency, accountability and discipline ensured at all levels.
More attention should be given to issues of public interest and efforts to put up social resistance against religious extremism, corruption, criminalisation of politics and discriminations against women.
OBSERVATIONS OF GRASSROOTS LEADERS
“Movement is the only way to free Hasina,” Madaripur district unit Joint Secretary Siraj Farazi told the meeting.
Kurigram unit President Major Gen (retd) AMSA Amin said failure of the movement might end up in “influential quarters hidden within the government” assuming power.
Joypurhat AL President Samsul Alam Dulu and Naogaon General Secretary Abdul Malek said there’s no question of taking part in the dialogue without Hasina.
Natore President Sajedur Rahman said those who would join the talks with government without the party chief would have to face dire consequences.
Rajshahi AL President Tajul Islam Faruq said, “Let’s forget our differences and dedicate ourselves to mobilising public support in favour of our movement.”
Nilphamari unit General Secretary Mamtajul Islam observed that AL should consider participating in the election even if Hasina remains behind bars.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:56 am
The intention of Care Taker Government is getting clearnow.Their only intention is to create situation tyo keep Hasina and Khaleda and major leaders away from election . They are really not sincere about eliminating corruption or punish the genuine corrupt persons.Hasina government in its tenure took several initiatives to improve energy generation and gas production and transmission. THe IPP , Brage mounted power plants were major intiatives. The fact that Bangladesh still gets some power is due to this initiatives. Shangu gas field ,Jalalabad gas field came into production. Bibiyana Gas field was discovered.Several cases now have been filed against Hasina which are baseless. If contracts were awrde4d following rules of Business then these can not be challenged.The inquiry officers a do not have knowledge to effectively investigate into these cases.If tried neutrally Hasina will be free in most of the hurriedly lodged cases. Some people in the process might have done some corruption.Nothing can be done as ACC and CTG had driving motive to fix hasina only. Why Hasina can not set free on bail and fight these cases following legal process. The persons in power must realise if there is election there is no way that any party other than Awami League or BNP will return to power.Then Government will take many of the present administration to dock. This process will keep the nation divided.
The only other option of bringing undemocratic muscle power to state administration will bring disasater for Bangladesh.
May 27th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Under no circumstances Hasina or Khaleda be allowed to take part in Election.
Leadership belongs to men as Islam propagated time has gone to seat tight under the cover of women Saries.There are many intelligent people
around who must be elected as leaders of all recognised & acceptable Parties .
People with senses will clearly understand that all leaders have amassed wealth with dishonesty.
How Hasina financed to buy Houses in UK & USA &
How Her Sister & Sons manages in UK & USA?
Who you are trying to fool?