The demand came at a meeting of the AL Presidium at the Gulshan residence of acting party president Zillur Rahman. It was the first meeting of the highest policymaking body of AL since the arrest of the party chief Sheikh Hasina on July 16.

The meeting also agreed in principle that they would move together to free the AL president through legal procedures.

"We are united over freeing Sheikh Hasina and we will continue our legal battle to free her," Zillur Rahman told reporters. He also demanded the government release Hasina immediately.

In the morning, six available AL presidium members and some of the central committee leaders, including dissident reformists, sat for chalking out different programmes marking the 32nd death anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Out of 12 presidium members, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury and Ataur Rahman Khan Kaisar were present at the meeting along with Zillur Rahman. At present, three presidium members -- Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Kazi Zafarullah -- have been arrested and in jail while Amir Hossain Amu and Suranjit Sengupta are abroad. Another member Sayeda Johra Tajuddin is sick.

Talking to the reporters in the afternoon, Zillur Rahman said that they want to observe August 15 like the way they did in previous years, but as indoor politics has been banned under the state of emergency, they would have to get permission. He hoped that the government will permit them to hold different programmes in observance of the day and the government itself will also observe the day with state honour.

Over AL's move to get Hasina released, the AL leader said, "As we have filed a writ petition in the High Court, we hope that we will get justice."

Expressing deep sympathy for the flood affected people, Zillur directed the party leaders and workers across the country to stand beside the flood victims.

At the meeting, the acting AL president announced the August 15 programmes, subject to permission, that include discussions, milad mahfils and destitute feeding.

Marking the day, both national and party flags will be flown at half-mast at all AL and its front organisations' offices across the country at 5:30am. Wreaths will be placed at the portrait of Bangabandhu at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the capital at 8:00am and special prayers will be offered at Banani graveyard at 8:30am.

The AL will also hoist black flags across the country and the party leaders and workers will wear black badges. Foods will be distributed among poor people after Johr prayers and doa mahfil will be held in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban on Road 32 in Dhanmondi after Asr prayers.

The party will also arrange a discussion at the Institute of Engineering at 3:00pm the following day.

An AL representative team led by party leader Col (retd) Faruq Khan will visit the grave of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj and place floral wreaths on behalf of the party.

AL leader Mukul Bose, Abdul Mannan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and BM Mozammel Haque were also present at the meeting.