Amid the call for a nationwide non-cooperation movement by the Anti-discrimination Students’ Movement from today (August 4) to press for its one-point demand, the Awami League has announced a two-day programme.

The ruling party will hold mass gatherings in all wards of the capital and all cities and districts across the country today and a mourning procession in the capital tomorrow.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the programmes in an emergency press conference at the AL President’s Dhanmondi political office on Saturday.

He said, “On one hand, the weather is bad and on the other hand, we don’t want to get involved in any kind of confrontation. We’ve avoided such programmes that may cause conflict. We scheduled programmes yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) as well.”

Quader said there will be gatherings in all wards of Dhaka city and all cities and districts and ward level across the country today. “On 5 August, we’ll hold our mourning procession programme from the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh to the Bangabandhu Bhaban in the capital.”

Meanwhile, the protesting students called for a non-cooperation movement from today to press for their one-point demand for resignation of the government.

Replying to a query about the non-cooperation movement, the AL general secretary said, “That’s why we’ve called for mass gatherings. We never want to go for confrontation.”

Asked whether the government has invited the United Nations or any other international organisation for investigation into deaths during the quota reform movement, he said, “The prime minister herself has repeatedly addressed this issue in her speeches. The UN has proposed, but they haven’t sent any official letter. We’ve agreed to their proposal.”    

Quader said the government wants to sit with the protesting students to prevent further violence. “We’re keeping the door open.”

Earlier, the Awami League postponed the mourning procession scheduled for Saturday in the capital on the occasion of the National Mourning Day.

Before announcing the fresh programmes at the press conference, AL leaders met in a closed-door meeting.

AL Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, who was present at the meeting, told the Daily Sun that all level leaders and activists of the party will gather in every ward of the city today and bring out processions in their respective areas.

At the press conference, AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmad Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Afzal Hossain were present, among others.

BDST: 1002 HRS, AUG 04, 2024
MN