Photo : Collected
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday (18 December) claimed that the statement given by Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque on brining BNP to the election is his personal opinion.
“Awami League is not a bankrupt party. AL will never give such a bizarre proposal to the BNP or any other party that breaks the party rules or destroys Awami League's commitment to democracy. Such a proposal was not given by the government or the party,” he said at a press briefing at the AL president’s political office in the capital.
During an interview broadcast on Sunday on the private television channel Channel 24, Razzaque, a presidium member of the ruling Awami League and the agriculture minister, said the BNP did not accept the proposal of joining the election in exchange for all its detained leaders getting released overnight.
Criticizing the statement made by 40 intellectuals of the country regarding the upcoming 12th national elections, he said, “Those who are talking about elections without calling for an end to fire terrorism are BNP’s agents, they are implementing the political agenda of BNP.”
Quader said so far 27 parties are taking part in the election and the number of candidates is 1886 including 357 independent candidates. All preparations for the election are underway, he added.
He said the Awami League's election manifesto will be announced on December 27 in the presence of party chief Sheikh Hasina.
Addressing BNP leader Moyeen Khan, the Awami League general secretary said, "If you look at Bangladesh on January 7, look at the polling centers, then you will understand how much the people of the country are eager to vote."
He said people do not believe in BNP's movement and it will continue to call for movement for the next five years.
Messenger/Fameema
