'Lift emergency for the sake of democracy'

Jatiya Press Club yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency for restoration of democratic process in the country.
The resolution was adopted at the additional general meeting (AGM) of the Press Club with its President Shawkat Mahmud in the chair.
Addressing the AGM, a number of members described how the emergency rule stands in the way of press freedom and strongly demanded immediate withdrawal of the state of emergency for restoration of democratic process in the country.
Press Club General Secretary Kamal Uddin Sabuj in his written speech hoped that democratic process would be restored in the country soon and emergency be lifted.
The meeting was addressed, among others, by club members Ataus Samad, Poet Al Muzahidi, Ershad Majumder, Rezwan Siddique, MA Aziz, Shaikh Rakibuddin, Saiful Amin, Enayet Hossain Khan, Kazim Reza and Asaduzzaman Asad. Club Treasurer Syed Abdal Ahmed placed his annual financial report at the meeting.
Ataus Samad in his speech said assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a big blow to the security of this subcontinent.
Prof Abdul Gafur of Daily Inqilab said emergency should be lifted immediately for reintroducing democratic rule in the country.
Earlier, the members stood silent for a minute in memory of former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto, Sidr victims and club members Obaidul Haque, Fazlul Karim, Wahidul Haque, Zahirul Haque, Masud Nizami and Syed Mostofa Kamal.