Ashraf shelves London trip at Hasina's request

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam postponed his scheduled London visit at the request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday, sources said.

He was supposed to fly at 10:10am today.

Ashraf, who was removed as LGRD minister on Thursday, had a one-to-one meeting with the PM at Gono Bhaban, which went for about two hours from 7:30pm.

He went to Gono Bhaban from an iftar programme of the party's publicity cell at Dhaka Officers Club after Hasina called him, sources confirmed.

He did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers at Bangabhaban.

On Sunday also, Hasina had requested Ashraf, in another one-to-one meeting, not to leave the country but he declined to comply, sources said.

Yesterday, several other party leaders also met Ashraf at his official residence, while Finance Minister AMA Muhit too had a one-to-one meeting with him.