Online Desk:  The caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed had arrested and imprisoned Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina first as part of its plan to eliminate her from the politics in 2007, said social welfare minister Dr Dipu Moni.

“The then caretaker government, known as 1/11 government, wanted to run the country with leaders of civil society,” she said while addressing as the chief guest a discussion meeting at Jatiya Press Club here today.

Weekly Gana Bangla organized the discussion to commemorate the mass signature collection campaign in support of Awami League’s demand for the release of Sheikh Hasina.

At that time, the Dhaka City unit of AL collected signatures of 25 lakh people and submitted those to the then caretaker government, demanding Sheikh Hasina’s release.

Dipu Moni said military backed caretaker government kept Sheikh Hasina in the sub-jail for 11 consecutive months and there was also an attempt to kill her.

But the caretaker government failed to kill Sheikh Hasina as AL leaders and activists waged massive movement in the country and the government had released Sheikh Hasina, she said.

Besides, military backed caretaker government had tortured AL leaders and workers.

AL had been able to force the caretaker government to hold elections to reestablish democracy and its grassroots level leaders and workers were the main force in that movement, she added.

Dipu Moni also said the country is moving forward under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and urged all to remain alert against BNP-Jamaat’s conspiracy.

AL organizing secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and its relief and social welfare secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Dr. Md. Awlad Hossain, MP, AL leader Advocate Balaram Poddar, freedom fighter Shafiqul Bahar Mazumder Tipu, Major (retd) Hafizur Rahman and AL leader Abul Kalam Azad, among others, spoke at the meeting.

AL leader MA Karim presided over the meeting while former AL leader Chandan Kumar Ghosh conducted it.