More people at Cumilla AL conference than BNP rally: Quader

Awami League general Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that Ziaur Rahman is the master mind of August 15 carnage.

He said this while (November 5, 2022) inaugurating Cumilla Metropolitan Awami League's triennial conference at the historic Town Hall ground around 11:30am, reports our local correspondent.

"The people of Cumilla hate Khandaker Mostaq, who conspired to kill Bangabandhu. Ziaur Rahman is the master mind of August 15 carnage. Mufti Hannan had said that a meeting was held at Hawa Bhaban on the August 21 grenade attack," he added.

"The grenade attack took place on Bangabandhu Avenue on the instructions of Tarique Rahman," he also said.

About the price hike of goods, he said that it is the result of global disaster.

About BNP's ongoing rally in Barishal, he said there are more people at the AL conference today than BNP's divisional public meeting.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Cumilla Metropolitan Awami League will be a committee based on the consensus of all parties," Quader also said.

Meanwhile, different factions of Awami League were holding processions and show-downs in Cumilla city since morning.

AKM Bahauddin Bahar, the founding president of Cumilla Metropolitan Awami League and member of parliament from Sadar, wants monopoly in the new AL committee, alleged party leaders who were deposed in the last committee.

The anti-Bahar faction has been alleging that nobody other than the councilors who are supported by the MP,are being able to attend the conference as the 27 ward committees of the party's metropolitan unit are made up of his supporters.

The anti-Bahar faction of Cumilla Awami League comprises of Anjuman Sultana Seema, senior vice-president of city AL and reserved seat MP; Nur-Ur-Rahman Mahmud Tanim, city Al's relief and social welfare affairs secretary; Kabirul Islam Sikder, city AL's human resources affairs secretary; and Al leader Advocate Anisur Rahman Mithu, among others.

"The central leaders of Awami League have come to the conference, all the councilors have come. There is a festive atmosphere," Mayor and Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Arfanul Haque Rifat told The Daily Star.

On the other hand, Anjum Sultana Seema complained that she did not receive any invitation for the conference and said, "I want the conference to be held beautifully. We will attend it, if there is an obstacle, we will respond properly."