Awami League (AL) will observe a token hunger strike programme in the capital today demanding uncondidonal release of detained party chief Sheikh Hasina and sending her to the US for treatment.

The programme, however, will be observed on a limited scale as the party got permission from the authorities to stage the hunger strike only at its central and Dhanmondi offices.

The programme will begin at 10:00am and end at 4:00pm.

The AL Presidium, the highest policymaking body of the party, took the decision on Saturday night.

Earlier on April 30, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed a ban on the AL's announced programme terming it 'illegal' under the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

The AL had planned to stage the hunger strike in all districts across the country and all thanas in the capital previously.

Central AL leaderships, members of the party's advisory council, assistant secretaries of the central sub-committees, leaders of Mohila AL and Jubo Mohila League will gather at Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi while leaders of AL Dhaka city unit and other front organisations will assemble at the party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

AL chief's political secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, also an organising secretary of the party, told The Daily Star that they would reach the Dhanmondi office before 10:00am and start the programme through addressing the gathering.

Meanwhile, AL and its different front organisations have completed preparations to observe the programme

"We have asked our thana and ward unit leaders to bring limited number of party men as we won't be able to accommodate a large number of people within the offices and there is no permission to observe the programme on the street,” said AL Dhaka City unit Acting General Secretary Qarnrul Islam.

AL Acting President Zillur Rahman and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam in a statement urged all to make the programme a success.