Australia chapter of AL staged protests in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra, US chapter staged a demonstration near the State Department in Washington DC while Canada unit held a protest rally in front of the parliament building in Ottawa.

They also demanded a free and fair election as early as possible.

Addressing the demonstrators in Washington DC, Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy urged all to get united ... for the sake of the country and democracy, New York-based news agency News World reported.

Asked whether he was ready to take AL leadership now, Joy said he never wanted to be AL leader.

"But in the case of freeing my mother and facing the challenges before the Awami League, I'll not keep silent," said Joy, a software engineer.

After the demonstration, AL leaders handed over various documents and video clips over Hasina's arrest and actions of the caretaker government to Marcella B Szymanski, country desk officer, the Bureau of South Asian Affairs.

"We have submitted various documents over hostile behaviour of the caretaker government with Awami League President Sheikh Hasina," said President of US unit of AL Khalid Hasan.

"We have told the State Department that the process in which Sheikh Hasina has been arrested was not proper. It is unlawful, so she should be released," said the AL leader.

Marcella B Szymanski told the AL workers that they are closely monitoring the overall situation in Bangladesh. The US always has been asking the Bangladesh caretaker government to ensure rule of law so that no one is deprived of justice, said the official.

US' Texas unit of AL also staged a similar demonstration to press home the demand for Hasina's release.

CANADIAN MP'S CALL
Canadian parliament member and President of Bangladesh-Canada Parliamentary Association Maria Minna yesterday urged the caretaker government not to misbehave with Sheikh Hasina and harass (BNP chief) Khaleda Zia.

The Canadian lawmaker, who has already sent letters to President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, met acting Bangladesh High Commissioner in Canadia Mahmud Khandaker and expressed her anxiety in this regard.

She urged the caretaker government to act in such a way that the democratic practice in Bangladesh is not hampered anyhow.

PROTEST IN UK, AUSTRALIA & CANADA
AL and Jubo League brought out separate processions and held rallies in London demanding immediate release of Hasina.

Meanwhile, House of Commons held two separate meetings to discuss Bangladesh situation. Both the meetings viewed Hasina's arrest was violation of human rights.

After the protest rally in Canberra, the AL workers handed over a memorandum to the chief adviser to the caretaker government through the Bangladesh High Commission. The memorandum demanded withdrawal of state of emergency and holding a free and fair election as early as possible, says a press statement sent to The Daily Star.

AL leaders and workers in Ottawa and Vancouver in Canada at separate protest meetings also demanded immediate release of Sheikh Hasina, according to a report faxed to The Daily Star.

Protesting the arrest of Hasina, both the meetings said it is part of a conspiracy to destroy her image as well as her party. The meeting also demanded holding the elections as early as possible to restore democracy in Bangladesh.

Vancouver AL formed a committee with Mahabubul Islam as its convenor to pressure the caretaker government to free Hasina.