14-Party ruling coalition assures BCL of ‘working’ for release of its jailed leader

The leaders of the 14-Party ruling coalition led by Awami League have assured Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) that they are ‘working’ to see to the release of the organisation’s Chittagong City unit leader Nurul Azim Rony.

A mobile court sentenced BCL port city unit General Secretary Rony to two years in prison for influencing votes to a union council at Hathazari on May 7.
 
A firearm and ammunition were also found on him, police said.
 
On Tuesday, BCL leaders and activists led by unit President Imran Ahmed Imu raised slogans at a 14-Party rally on Laldighi ground demanding his release.
 
Addressing the rally, the coalition’s Chief Coordinator Awami League leader Mohammed Nasim said, “I promise I will look into Rony’s matter so that he can be released soon.”
 
BCL leaders allege that the magistrate who sent Rony to prison was affiliated to Jamaat-e-Islami.
 
At Laldighi, JaSoD leader Moin Uddin Khan Badal said, “The magistrate was very quick to hand down the verdict. Even (BNP chief) Khaleda Zia gets 52 extensions in one case, but Rony wasn’t given 15 minutes.”
 
He also warned the BCL leaders to be careful when raising slogans. “You are saying you will break the jail and snatch Rony back. But the jail belongs to (prime minister) Sheikh Hasina.”
 
“Steps will be taken so that a good organiser like Rony gets released soon. I’ll work with Mohiuddin Chowdhury (Chittagong AL leader) for this,” he added.
 
JaSoD leader Shirin Akhter said, “We will tackle it with determination if Rony faces any conspiracy.”
 
Samyobadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua expressed solidarity with the BCL members to demand the release of Rony.