102 ex-MPs of AL demand Hasina's release before Eid
A total of 102 former Awami League (AL) lawmakers yesterday demanded release of the detained party president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
"There are many jurisdictions in the hand of the government and they (the government) can release her if they wish," Abdul Hamid, deputy leader of the opposition in the last parliament, said at a press conference organised on behalf of the former lawmakers at his NAM Flat in the capital.
He hoped the government would release Hasina before Eid. The 15-crore people would be happy if the government does so, said the AL leader.
Former AL lawmaker Shahajahan Khan, Raziuddin Ahmed Razu and Atiur Rahman Atik were present at the press conference.
Hamid, also a former Speaker, said Hasina would help the caretaker government in implementing the Election Commission-announced roadmap to hold the next elections.
The government's desire to hold the elections in a free and fair manner has come under question with the arrest of Hasina in false charges, he said adding that it is possible to withdraw the cases if the government wants.
Hamid said the entire nation were surprised and shocked with the arrest of Hasina on false and fabricated cases filed by a few conspirators.
The AL leader said he does not support the idea of former president Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury to form a "government of national consensus" for the next ten years.
He said there are some good sides in Badruddoza's proposals. "But if there is no opposition in the parliament, it might turn into an autocratic one," felt the AL leader.
He observed that presence of an opposition is a must in the parliament to criticise the government's mistakes and wrongdoings.
AL acting President Zillur Rahman, presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury, acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Akhtaruzzaman, Bir Bahadur, Vice Principal Abdus Shahid, col (retd) Faruk Khan, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Dr Abdur Razzak, Abdul Hai, Dewan Farid Gazi, Panchanan Biswas, and AKM Jahangir Hossain, among others, signed the statement demanding Hasina's release.
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