http://www.newagebd.com/2008/may/06/front.html#2
New Age, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Awami League observes 6-hour hunger strike
The acting Awami League president, Zillur Rahman, on Monday
categorically said that there would be no elections in the country
without Sheikh Hasina=92s participation and warned the government of
mass protests in the making.
=91There will be no elections if Hasina is not on the field=85 and the
people will not accept any polls without her participation=92, Zillur
said while speaking at a token hunger strike programme at the AL
chief=92s Dhanmondi office.
The party observed a six-hour hunger strike from 10:00am to press
for its five-point demand, including release of Hasina and immediate
announcement of election schedule. A good number party leaders and
activists took part in the hunger strike at the party=92s central office
on Bangabandhu Avenue and at its Dhanmondi office.
=91After every such peaceful protest [like the token hunger strike]
to realise the demands, the people themselves will decide the next
course of action and at one point it might go beyond the control of
the party,=92 Zillur warned.
He also said that the party would not bear responsibility if the
people=92s protests =91go beyond its control though the party is trying
all types of peaceful means under the statement of emergency to get
Hasina freed=92.
AL sources said the party central working committee would sit on
May 13 to discuss next course of action.
Zillur and most the senior party leaders censured the Election
Commission for redrawing the electoral constituencies disregarding
political parties=92 opposition and said the activities of the EC were
raising doubt as to whether the national elections would be held as
per the roadmap.
=91The Election Commission has announced the draft of delimitation of
134 out of 300 electoral constituencies. We have rejected the
commission=92s decision, but it is doing everything ignoring our
demands=85
Then what is the use of dialogues=92, Zillur said.
Addressing the hunger strikers, the party leaders demanded
withdrawal of the state of emergency, holding of free and fair
elections and steps to contain prices.
Acting general secretary of the AL, Syed Ashraful Islam, said the
party would stick to its demand =96 release of Sheikh Hasina.
About media reports that five advisers had urged the chief adviser
to release the two former prime ministers =96 Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda
Zia =96 on parole, Ashraf said, =91If such a proposal has been made, we
would say good sense has dawned on a section of the government
advisers.=92
Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu demanded immediate and
unconditional release of the party chief. =91We want to participate in
the dialogue as well as parliamentary polls under the leadership of
Sheikh Hasina.=92
Abdur Razzak, another presidium member, observed that the presence
of Sheikh Hasina was essential for making the dialogue fruitful and
also for ensuring an atmosphere congenial to holding the general
elections.
Tofail Ahmed suggested that the government should hold bilateral
dialogues with the political parties and observed that Hasina=92s
presence would make the talks meaningful.
=91The country has reached a very crucial juncture and only Sheikh
Hasina can salvage the country from this situation. There is no
alternative=92, he said.
Another senior leader, Matia Chowdhury, said =91We will take part in
the elections along with Sheikh Hasina. We will get her freed.=92
The hunger strike was observed on a limited scale as the party got
permission to stage the programme only at its central and Dhanmondi
offices.
AL central working committee on March 29 took the decision to stage
the hunger strike countrywide and the party presidium at a meeting on
April 23 fixed April 29 for the programme but later postponed the
programme outside the capital and deferred the Dhaka programme to May
5.
Central AL leaders, members of the party=92s advisory council,
assistant secretaries of the central sub-committees, leaders of Mahila
AL and Juba Mahila League took part in the hunger strike at Hasina=92s
political office at Dhanmondi while leaders of AL Dhaka city unit and
other front organisations observed the programme at the party central
office on Bangabandhu Avenue.
|
