Better an empty shed than bad cattle: Quader

Awami League wants to present the countrymen a new model of a smart,  modern and clean political party through its national council scheduled in December, the ruling party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader said  in Rajshahi yesterday.

“None other than Sheikh Hasina is essential to the party. So, form  committees with new leadership of young and good persons if your  committees are contaminated with corrupt politicians,” the road transport and bridges minister said while addressing the party’s Rajshahi divisional representatives’ conference at the district  Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

“We don’t need those who occupy party posts using muscle and bad  influence, and who do not care for party leaders’ opinion. It’s better to have an empty shed than bad cattle,”  he said.

Quader’s comment came after party representatives from eight districts raised similar complaints that the party’s lawmakers have stalled political activities by avoiding grassroots leaders and sheltering infiltrators.

AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim chaired the conference, while AL organising  secretary for Rajshahi division Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury conducted it. AL joint secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, food minister Sadhan Chandra  Majumder and Rajshahi mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, among others, spoke at the event. 

Joypurhat AL leader Solaiman Haque said intra-party feuds left three persons dead during the last upazila parishad elections in the district.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury asked AL leaders of Bogura and Joypurhat to be “careful” in their political activities.

“We regained our political strength in the two districts where  anti-liberation forces had ruled for many years. We must avoid rivalry there”.

Naogaon AL president Abdul Malek said, Manda upazila AL committee could not be formed in 14 years following unwillingness of former  minister Emaj Uddin Pramanik.

Responding to grassroots leaders, Obaidul Quader, in his address, directed party men to form committees through holding “meaningful” councils, and in case they  fail, the central committee would form the committees within mid-November. 

However, some leaders who attended the conference said they hardly believe there was going to be any major change in the party. “We’ve heard same things repeatedly; no change comes to effect. The  leaders forget their remarks when they cross the Jamuna,” one participant said.