Cancel housing project, set up hospital, IT centre

The association leaders also threatened to launch a tougher movement, including laying siege to the Bureau of Employment and Training, if the government does not meet their 10-point demand by October 15.

They will also submit a memorandum to both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition in parliament on October 16.

The previous Awami League government approved a project of hospital and IT centre to be set up on 151.54 kathas of land belonging to the association, but the present government had initiated a housing project instead, said Ahmed Ullah Ratan, general secretary of the Association, at a press conference in the city.

The association has repeatedly protested the move, but the ruling four-party alliance took no heed, he added.

He demanded that the government make an announcement of the hospital project immediately through the media.

The leaders also called on the government to take an initiative to collect compensation from the United Nations for the losses suffered by 444 Bangladeshi detainees during the Iraq-Kuwait war and pay the money to them.

Association President Noor Mohammad Siddiqui, Vice-presidents Khairuzzaman and Mizanul Haque Mizan and Organising Secretary Abu Taher Sarkar also spoke at the press conference.