AL to protest price spiral tomorrow

The AL presidium took the decision at a meeting yesterday at the party's Dhanmondi office with party chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The meeting took stock of the latest socio-economic and political situation and condemned the government's 'ulterior move of politicising the judiciary'.

It demanded immediate separation of the judiciary from the executive and supported the lawyers' six-point demand.

In a separate resolution, the AL presidium condemned recent police attacks on professionals including nurses and teachers. It also expressed deep concern at the reported move to retrench 30,000 police personnel.

The meeting questioned why the Sierra Leone president, during his recent visit to Bangladesh, was taken to the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman. This was part of the ruling BNP's political activities in the name of official programmes, it said.

The AL presidum decided to observe 'jail killing day' on November 3 across the country in a befitting manner.

Meanwhile, party sources pointed out that Sheikh Hasina leaves Dhaka this morning on a six-day visit to Germany when intra-party conflicts are taking a serious turn, particularly in greater Sylhet region.

Abdus Samad Azad and Suranjit Sengupta, both of whom have large followings in Sunamganj district and had several showdowns in recent months, were present at the meeting. Azad will head the party during Hasina's absence till October 30, the meeting decided.