AL plans two-way battle against BNP's suing spree

The cases were filed after the AL made public a list of 102 alliance leaders including ministers and lawmakers branding them as 'godfathers' on October 16.

"We have already consulted our legal experts on the issue and decided to go to courts confidently as we have substantial proofs in favour of our claims," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said.

He however said, "We are yet to decide whether to go to the High Court or the district courts with which the cases are being filed. We have not received summons from courts till now," he said.

A decision will be taken in consultation with legal experts of the party once the summons are served, Jalil added

A magistrate's court in Natore has already summoned the accused in a defamation case to the court today.

But Jalil and other party leaders said they will not turn up in the court as they have not received the summons.

Senior AL leaders have suggested the party should take this opportunity to step up its activities by holding grand rallies wherever the central leaders accused in defamation cases will go to appear before courts.

"The cases intended to harass political opponents of the government will give the Awami League a chance to bring dynamism to the organisational activities across the country," said one leader.

District units of the AL have already been instructed to consult local lawyers to face the legal battles ahead and also to organise anti-government rallies, he mentioned.

The AL leaders charged with defamation include Abdus Samad Azad, Abdul Jalil, Abdur Razzak, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Suranjit Sengupta, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Matia Chowdhury, SAMS Kibria, ASHK Sadeq, Obaidul Kader, Abdul Mannan Khan, Ashim Kumar Ukil and BM Mozammel.

The alliance leaders who filed these cases include Health and Family Welfare Minister Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, Chief Whip Khandakar Delwar Hossain and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and AL President Sheikh Hasina said recently her party will announce another list of ruling alliance 'godfathers'.