Awami League announces signature campaign, organisational tour

The Awami League on Wednesday (May 28) officially rejected the military-controlled interim government's offer for dialogue without the party president, Sheikh Hasina, who is now detained in jail. Awami League's central working committee at a two-day meeting that ended Wednesday also adopted programmes for a systematic movement.

The programmes include a signature campaign for an immediate, unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina, and countrywide organisational tour in June.

The meeting also endorsed the Dhaka city Awami League's program of human chain in the first week of June around the Jatiya Sangsad complex where Sheikh Hasina is detained in a special jail.

The party's acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam disclosed the decision in a news briefing on Wednesday after the central working committee meeting.

"We will not attend any dialogue without our leader Sheikh Hasina". We will convey our decision to the government in a day or two," he said after the meeting in the office of Awami League's President at Dhanmondi.

The central working committee announced the signature campaign and the countrywide organisational tour in June and endorsed the Dhaka city Awami League's human chain programme in the first week of June around the special jail.

Later, while talking to the media-men, Syed Ashraful Islam said: 'Such a proposition is out of the question. We will consider whether we will attend the dialogue after an unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina.'

Asked how they expect Sheikh Hasina's release as cases have been filed against her, he rejected outright the trail process. ‘All the cases are baseless, concocted and motivated. We do not accept the trial process.'

Syed Ashraful Islam said the Awami League would observe Six-Point Day on June 7 in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country with discussions. The party will observe its founding anniversary on June 23.

It will organize launch a signature campaign across the country, except for the capital city, during June 7-30 seeking support for Sheikh Hasina's release and the six-point demand.

He said the central leaders of the party would tour district and upazila headquarters in June 15 - 30 and hold extended committee meetings to reactivate the party grassroots workers and organisations.

Awami League iterated its demand for sending Sheikh Hasina abroad for treatment as she has almost lost her hearing.

The working committee also expressed its concerns about the increase in fuel and food prices.

Awami League's acting president, Zillur Rahman, earlier chaired the central working committee meeting.