Lobbying won't work

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said nothing can force the Hasina-led government to step down before the end of its tenure. So, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would better prepare for the next general election.

Referring to Khaleda's meetings with US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal, Ashraf said it won't bring any result no matter how many times the BNP chief meets the US diplomat.

He added that the two-time prime minister was seen on TV sitting like a kid in front of Biswal as if the American official would right away hand her power. He also called the US assistant secretary a “two-penny minister”.

Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, urged the BNP chief not to depend on India's BJP government either for a changeover in Bangladesh.

Addressing the triannual council session of the ruling AL's Khulna city unit at Khulna Circuit House ground, he came down hard on Dan Mozena, saying the US ambassador tried his best to postpone the January 5 elections.

"Mozena will leave Bangladesh for home next week as his job tenure has ended and so has his power," Ashraf said, adding that Bangladesh is not in a position that people like Mozena will determine changeover in the country.