Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury Wednesday night said her party will seek permission for the planned hunger strike in the capital on May 5, reports agency.

She stated this to UNB in response to the DMP Commissioner''s press release that said it is contrary to the Emergency Power Rules, 2007 to hold such programme without prior permission.

"We''ll seek permission," Matia said, adding'' even after that if we don''t get permission it will be clear to the people what kind of indoor politics has been introduced in the capital." Matia said "We don''t want to violate the state of emergency. We want to stage the programme within the relaxed emergency rules.''

Awami League will make a formal reaction to this effect after its presidium meeting at Zillur Rahman''s house tomorrow evening. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Wednesday asked Awami League to refrain from staging its hunger strike on May 5 in the capital.

A DMP release Wednesday said the programme is contrary to the Emergency Power Rules as Awami League did not take prior permission for observing the programme, planned to press for release of party chief Sheikh Hasina among other demands.

"In case of defiance of the order, stern action will be taken," the release cautioned. Masudur Rahman, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner, issued the order for DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed.