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AL to take part in Aug 4 polls

Staff Correspondent
Awami League (AL) yesterday decided to take part in the August 4 polls to four city corporations and nine municipalities.
The cntcial decision came at a two-day meeting of the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the party's highest decision-making body.
"After weighing up the pros and cons, we have unanimously decided to participate in the local polls in the interests of democracy, peace and stability in the country,” said AL acting president Zillur Rahman.
He was talking to reporters after the meeting at party chief Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi.
AL also demanded that the government announce a date for parliamentary polls immediately.
Besides, it reiterated its call for complete withdrawal of the state of emergency.
The ALCWC meeting began Thursday and with a break continued till 7:30pm yesterday.
Most of the participants there suggested taking into consideration pro-election sentiment of the people and AL rank and file.
In the light of their suggestions, the meeting decided in favour of going to the polls, which would be the first ones under the present
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caretaker government, sources said.
Zillur said it is sad that the government has yet to lift the state of emergency despite their repeated demands. He called on the caretaker administration to revoke the emergency rule completely so that people could practise their right to vote properly.
AL will raise these issues at formal talks with the government on July 3. At yesterday's meeting, the presidium members have been asked to strike a hard bargain at the dialogue with the government.
Sources said the decision in favour of the polls has come on getting a green signal from the party chief who is now abroad for treatment.
The working committee tasked AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam with contacting the government and requesting to shift either the closing date for submitting nominations from July 3 to July 5 or the dialogue date from July 3 to July I so that the party could discuss their stance elaborately with the government.
Referring to the condition of Hasina's ears, Zillur said it would not have deteriorated to the extent it did had the government released her earlier.
He also demanded her unconditional and permanent release.
Zillur criticised the government for not releasing Mohammad Nasim yet. He asked for immediate arrangements for the ailing AL leader to be sent abroad for treatment.