The US unit of AL demanded unconditional release of Hasina within 24 hours at a protest rally at Actoria, New York, yesterday.

Terming the arrest anti-democratic, the leaders also demanded resignation of the council of advisers and saying, "If they remain in office, the advisers would be considered an enemy of the people."

The leaders at the rally insisted on sending the army back to the barracks and demanded immediate identification of the joint forces personnel who are violating human rights. If anybody tries to organise a council meeting without Sheikh Hasina, he would be considered an enemy of the nation, they observed.

The US chapter leaders decided to send a lawyer from the US to assist Hasina fight the charges brought against her. Besides, the leaders would also hold a sit-in in front of the Bangladesh Consulate and the New York Times office on July 16 and hold a protest rally in front of the United Nations Headquarters on July 19.

Sajjadur Rahman Sajjad, acting general secretary of AL US unit, organised the rally.

Meanwhile, the AL Austria unit held a protest rally at Vienna's Stad Park. Nazrul Islam, former president of Bangladesh Press Club and convener of Bangladesh Genocide 1971, said the government orchestrated the plot to arrest Hasina and tarnish the image of the AL chief and through this the interim government has quickened its end.

Besides, eminent writers, poets and intellectuals of the country including Syed Shamsul Haque, Selina Hossain, Nirmolendu Goon considered the arrest of Hasina and the order to send her to jail a plot to harass her.

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) termed the case farcical and said it would create dispute over the transparency of the court and legal procedure.

Without the petition of the investigation officer and the approval of a magistrate such an arrest is conspiratorial and intentional.

Fifty-one teachers of Dhaka University in a joint statement said the arrest of Hasina points to the double standards of the government where political leaders are being harassed and arrested for demanding free, fair and transparent elections and the so-called reformists are being entertained for the formation of new parties even during the period of emergency.

Bangladesh Muktijuddho Projanma League leaders including its President AK Faiyazul Haque Raju and General Secretary Mohammad Shamim Khan said Hasina's arrest was part of a conspiracy designed by national and international conspirators to destroy the independence, sovereignty and democracy of the country.

Protesting the AL president's arrest Bangladesh Krishak League President Mirza Jalil, General Secretary Motahar Hossain Mollah said the caretaker government has violated human rights.

Chairman of Muktijoddha Paribar Kalyan Sangsad Syed Shahid Uddin and Secretary General Abdul Hye Manik said, "It is hypocrisy to talk about establishing democracy while attacking democracy itself." They demanded immediate release of Hasina.

Muktijoddha Palli Society, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Andolan, Bangladesh Garment Sramik Kendra, Jatiya Gonotrantrik League, Dokkhin Bangla Jubo Kalyan Samity, Mehendiganj Unnayan Sangram Parishad in a joint statement said the people of the country would resist as they did in 1952, '54, '58, '62, '66, '69, '70, '71.

Bangladesh Muktijoddha Nou-Commando, Bangabandhu Research and Audio- Vision Centre, Bengali Sanskritik Kendra, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad also condemned the arrest of Hasina.