& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Discipline marks start of Awami League Council

By Staff Correspondent
The third Council Session of the Awami League, that began Saturday in the capital, was marked by festivity and discipline as leaders and workers from across the country converged after five yeara.
An army of 500-strong activists, with badges bearing the portrait of (Jie Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujlbur Rahman clipped to their chests, lined up and escorted councillors, delegates and guests to seats under the huge canopy in the Engineers' Institution premises where the opening ceremony of the council session took place.
Earlier, slogan-chanting Awami League activists, hud died in hired buses, started pouring into the venue from noon.
Those who came from the nearby areas marched through the streets carrying banners, placards and festoons.
Organisers said that 2,500 councillors and another 2.500 delegates from all the districts attended the Inaugural function.
Also present on the occa slon were thousands of party activists, sympathizers, guests from other political organisations. diplomats and represen tatives of international organ! sations and Intellectuals.
Riot police were deployed outside the Engineers' Instilo tion while plalnclothesmcn I maintained strict security In- • side.
Veteran Awaml Leaguers on 1 arrival at the venue hugged each other and exchanged greetings while the younger ones stayed busy organising the opening function.
However, there were many who could not attend the opening function.
The road in front of the Institution from Matsya Bhaban to Shahbagh crossing was closed at 3:15 pm and traffic diverted. Food and ice-cream vendors did brisk business.
Awaml League President and chief guest at the opening function Sheikh Haslna arrived at the venue at about 3:30 pm. Minutes after, she hoisted the national flag as the National Anthem was played over scores of loudspeakers installed in and outside the venue.
Haslna also released white pigeons and balloons symbolising continued peace and freedom.
The Awaml league Genera) Secretary Begum Sajeda Chowdhury hoisted the party flag while district leaders hoisted their flags, each representing a district unit
Sheikh Haslna and Begum Sajeda Chowdhury sat in the front row of the seats on the stage while other central leaders behind them.
A huge portrait of Banga-bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was set up on one side of the stage with garlanded pictures of the martyrs In the 1975 jail killings forming the background. Haslna garlanded the portrait of her father.
Artistes of the Bangbandhu Sangskritik Pari shad sang the National Anthem and "Joy Bangja-Banglar Joy."
The crowd orerflowed the venue and spilled over to the Suhrawardi U.ddyan and to the Ramna Park.
The opening function started with recitations from the holy Quran, the Bhagwat Geeta, the Bible and the Trlpt-tak
Awaml League leader Tofacl Ahmed then read out a long list of obituary references.
The audience, the Awaml League leaders and workers stood for one minute in solemn silence to pay respects to the dead.
After the condolence, Begum Sajeda Chowdhury, convenor of the reception subcommittee of the council session. delivered the address of welcome.
She was followed by Flvc-Party leader Khalequzzaman Bhuiyan and the Patriotic Democratic Front leader Nurul Islam Nahid, who spoke on behalf of the guests of different political organisations.
Haslna began speaking at the session at 5:10 pm and ended after an hour.
The Inaugural ceremony of the council session ended at 6:30 pm.