AL observes 'black day'

"Awami League has no scope to join the conference", AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said, adding that the government has politicised the conference and undermined the image of the CPA.

He was addressing a rally in front of the party central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The city AL organised the rally to observe October 1 as 'black day' protesting alleged vote rigging in the last general elections.

Abdul Jalil said the Speaker failed to ensure the rights of the opposition lawmakers in arranging the CPA conference.

Addressing the rally AL presidium member Abdur Razzak said the present government came to power through a 'national and international conspiracy' in the last elections.

He urged all democratic parties to be united to oust the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition government.

Suranjit Sen Gupta, another presidium member, criticised the Speaker for keeping himself mum when the ruling party men delivered indecent speeches against the opposition leader in parliament.

"After making parliament non-functional, the invitation of the Speaker to join the CPA conference is nothing but a political stunt", he added.

Presided over by Mohammad Hanif, the rally was addressed by Obaidul Kader, Mukul Bose, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Yeafes Osman, Advocate Sahara Khatun, Omar Ali, Dr Abdul Jalil, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Advocate Quamrul Islam, Nazrul Islam Babu and Fazilatunnesa Indira.

After the rally, the AL leaders and workers burnt two effigies of former chief advisor of the caretaker government Latifur Rahman and Chief Election Commissioner MA Sayeed for playing alleged partial role in the last general elections.