AL launches 'anti-anarchy' campaign
The ruling Awami League will start a week-long campaign across the country from today to caution people about possible activities to create anarchy and incite violence.
AL lawmakers and leaders have been directed to conduct the campaign.
The decision came yesterday afternoon from an AL secretary-level meeting at AL President Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office.
Four teams headed by the party's four joint general secretaries would conduct campaigns in the capital.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said his party would counter the BNP's activities politically.
If the BNP resorted to violence like it did in 2014, the administration would take action, he said.
Earlier in the day, the roads, transport and bridges minister told a press conference at his ministry office that the Election Commission had decided to announce polls schedule in the first week of November.
He also said the BNP and its allies' demands for a non-partisan and neutral government during the national election was “totally illogical”.
“If the government takes any decision to meet their demands, it will not conform to the constitution. And there is no scope to amend the constitution within this [period of] time,” Quader said.
A polls-time government would be formed later this month, he said.
The BNP and its allies do not need a non-partisan and neutral government. They need a participatory, credible, and free election, the minister said.
So, the BNP and its allies need a neutral EC to conduct the election. The government, meanwhile, will do the routine tasks and not take any policy decisions, he added.
A peaceful situation prevails in the country now, he said and asked why the BNP was demanding “an emergency government”.
The press conference was held a few hours before the BNP rally in the capital.
He alleged that the BNP and its allies were trying to create anarchy.
Asked whether the government would take any initiative to get the BNP to take part in the election in case the party decided to boycott it, Quader said, “This is not something to invite to.”
The BNP, as a political party, has the right to participate in the election and the government cannot stop it, he said.
On Friday, Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad urged all political parties and alliances not to nominate anyone who have in the past worked against the interest of minority communities.
Asked about the AL's position, Quader said, “Why would anyone with communal mindset be a public representative in Bangladesh? Some of their [parishad's] demands are logical and we don't want any communal people nominated [in the election]. So we do not have any disagreement with their demands.”
Comments