AL leaders to feed destitutes as poll campaign strategy

Awami League lawmakers will feed the destitute people across the country on National Mourning Day today as part of an election campaign strategy for the next general polls.
In addition, the party will organise special prayers in all mosques, temples and churches throughout the country for Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members who were assassinated by a group of army officers on this day in 1975.
Noakhali AL MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury bought the highest number of cattle--130 cows--for feeding the destitute in his area, said his close associates.
Like Chowdhury, many other lawmakers have brought cattle numbering five to 50 in their respective constituencies to feed the destitute.
Among the city lawmakers, Aslamul Haque Aslam paid money to his close associates to purchase 27 cattle, while Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Ilias Mollah, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, and Mizanur Rahman Khan Dipu have bought over a dozen cattle each and Abdur Rahman of Faridpur bought seven.
“I will organise feeding in 27 spots in my constituency,” Aslam told The Daily Star. Nanak said he would feed people in around 24 places of eight wards in his constituency.
The numbers of cattle bought by AL lawmakers and leaders are higher in Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Mymensingh and Faridpur, said AL Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain.
The AL has directed its city lawmakers to observe this year's National Mourning Day on a massive scale, keeping the next parliamentary election in mind. On behalf of the party, AL Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, also state minister for LGRD, gave these directives to the city lawmakers.
For the last four years, the ruling party has observed the day in a traditional manner. This year, the massive scale programmes are aimed at bridging the gap among party lawmakers, leaders, workers and the people, said AL insiders.
The party will also play Bangabandhu's historic speeches through loud speakers at all constituencies across the country on this occasion.