Obaidul Quader at a press conference at the political office of the Awami League president in Dhanmondi on Wednesday.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has announced to take ‘timely’ action regarding the participation of relatives of ministers and members of parliament in upazila elections in violation of the party’s instructions.
He said these things in response to questions from journalists at a press conference at the political office of the Awami League president in Dhanmondi at noon.
Indicating what action will be taken against them, Kader said, “Disciplinary action will be taken if the party instructions are violated. This decision must be made in due course.”
BNP and like-minded people have boycotted this year’s upazila elections like the national elections. The ruling party has decided not to field a party candidate or even support anyone to create an atmosphere of contestation in this local government election.
Local parliamentarians and cabinet members have also been ordered to keep their relatives away from voting so that they cannot influence the vote.
However, several relatives of parliamentarians in several areas have been candidates as chairman in the first phase of upazila elections. A couple of people, however, withdrew from the vote due to various incidents.
Obaidul Quader said, “The time for withdrawing the first phase of candidature has passed. Some said, ‘It would have been convenient for us to take a decision if the matter had been informed earlier.’
“Even then, some have withdrawn, some have not. Officially the deadline of the Election Commission can be done even then if you wish. So this matter cannot be considered conclusive.”
The Awami League leader said that action has been taken against those who disobeyed the party’s decision in the national parliament election as well, “The party will judge their actions. Those who do not withdraw (candidacy) till the final stage, the party will take action in time.”
Counter program to ‘mentally block’ BNP
Commenting on this, Obaidul Quader said, “BNP commits ‘fire terror’ to hold a one-sided rally. Ensuring people’s lives and property, protecting assets… we also have a responsibility as a government party.
“If we are in the field they will have a mental block about committing arson. That’s why we do it. We are holding a peace rally, they are doing a lot of protesting.”
Awami League has been calling for a counter-programme since August 2022 after BNP entered the field demanding the re-establishment of the caretaker government during the election period and the fall of the government.
Whatever the program of BNP, Awami League has been doing ‘Peace Rally’ or ‘Peace March’. A little more than three and a half months after the BNP boycotted the elections, the BNP called for a rally in the capital on April 26. But later it was postponed due to heat.
Awami League also called for a peace rally on the same day. After the withdrawal of BNP, the ruling party also suspended the program.
Until now, the leaders of the ruling party were not willing to accept these as a counter-programme.
In response to a question from journalists, Quader said, “How many rallies did BNP and we hold on the same day?” As a political party, are we going to fight back and forth? Have we carried out any attack on their assembly, as a government party? So what is the problem?
“What have we interrupted? We are doing our assembly, they did their assembly. This is the pre-election scenario.”
Questioning whether there was any conflict between the two parties in the counter rally in Dhaka, he said, “We are maintaining peace in the peace rally.”
Awami League leader said, “Look, now the election is over,” when asked whether he feared that BNP could take over Rajpath. Those who boycotted the election, they will not allow the election, that dream has died in the field. Awami League will not be able to form the government after the election, it will fall after 5 days. Such a nightmare they saw.”
Awami League Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin were present at the press conference.
