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Release Hasina soon for polls, treatment

Says AL after hunger strike

Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) yesterday renewed its call to the caretaker government to release its detained chief Sheikh Hasina immediately, so the party may take part in the upcoming parliamentary election under her leadership.
The country's present political Crisis will not be resolved without the release of AL chief, said senior hinders nf the party yesterday while addressing the party's token hunger strikers demanding Hasina's release, who has been detained since July 16 of last year.
AL went on a six-hour token hunger strike to press home the demand for Hasina's unconditional release, and for permission to send her to the US for treatment.
The programme, however, was observed on a limited scale as the party got permission from the
authorities to stage its first ever demonstration since Hasina's arrest, only in its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue and in its president’s political office in Dhanmondi, both in thecapital
Earlier on April 30, Dhaka Metropolitan Police imposed a ban on the announced demonstration terming it 'illegal' under the Emergency Power Rules 2007.
AL had originally planned to stage thehungerstrik'-'T ill district towns, and in all thanas of the capital.
The strike started at 10:00am and ended around 4:00pm. Acting AL chief Zillur Rahman concluded the demonstration by offering juice and water to the hunger striking leaders and activists in Hasina's political office while Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu offered the same to the strikers in the party's central office.
Central AL leadership including .Amir Hossain Amu. Abdur Razzak. Tofail Ahmed. Suranjit Sengupta. Matia Chowdhury. Syed Ashraful Islam, members of the party's advisory council, assistant secretaries of the central sub committees, and leaders of Mohila AL and Jubo Mohila League gathered in Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi around 9:30am, while leaders of AL Dhaka city unit and other front organisations assembled in the part)' central office almost at the same time. All gathered in both venues went on a hunger strike amid tight security with deployment of huge contingents of police at both places.
Addressing the hunger strikers in Hasina's office. Zillur said the caretaker government has intentionally kept the AL chief detained for about a year now Demanding immediate and unconditional release of Hasina, he said without the release of /\I. chief, die people will never take part in an election. "The election can't be held keeping Sheikh Hasina detained." said Zillur adding. "No Sheikh Hasina. no election'"
He also criticised the Election Commission (EC) for redemarcating the electoral constituencies.
"We rejected their move, but they have been doing everything neglecting our demands. Then what’s the dialogue for? If dialogues don't happen, conflict in the country will be inevitable," Zillur warned.
Amu said they want to participate in the dialogues as well as in the parliamentary poll under freed Hasina’s leadership. The party is passing a time more critical than during any martial law in the past, he added.
Razzak criticised the government for not taking any action against Jamaat-e-Islami, while it has been
detaining leaders of other parties.
He observed that presence of Hasina is essential for making the official dialogues between the government and political parties fruitful, and also for creating a congenial atmosphere for holding the general election.
Tbfail said they laid the foundation of a movement for release of Hasina through yesterday s token hunger strike.
Suranjit called upon the EC io cancel the re-demarcation of 134 electoral constituencies.
Addressing party leaders Matia said. "You don't think of contesting in the election without her (I lasina]."
Syed Ashraf said his party will stick to its demand for Hasina's release until it is met.
"We want the government to release Sheikh Hasina and send her abroad for treatment," he said.
He also said the party will announce its next course of action after holding its central working committee meeting on May 13.
Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury emphasised on party unity and said if there is unity in the part)’, the movement will be successful, and it will be possible to get the AL chief released.
"There is still time to come out of the present crises by viewing Sheikh Hasina as a possible solution rather than a problem." Saber, also an AL organising secretary, said.
Meanwhile, AL's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League went on a token hunger strike at Bottola in front of the Arts Building of Dhaka University (DU).
Some DU teachers including Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Prof Harun-or-Rasid, Prof Masiur Rahman, Prof Saiful Islam, Dr Jamal Uddin, and Dr Wahiduzzaman went there and expressed solidarity with the striking students.