Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the party’s rebel candidates to work together to ensure the victory of Awami League and Grand Alliance candidates in the 11th general election.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, made the call through an open letter issued on Friday and sent to rebel aspirants on Saturday.
“Those who went against the party’s decision and became independent candidates are officially known as rebel candidates,” she said. “But I urge you all to withdraw you nomination bid and work for the victory of the candidates nominated by the party and the Grand Alliance.”
In the letter, the prime minister also thanked all the nomination aspirants for their initiatives to make Awami League strong. “I am acknowledging your tireless efforts and I will definitely consider this.”
“The upcoming election is very important to save the country from BNP and Jamaat’s atrocities and to continue the course of democracy and development.
“To save the country from evil forces, Awami League has decided to contest the election under the banner of a Grand Alliance.”
She also expressed hope that Awami League will win the December 30 election by a huge margin if all party leaders and activists work together for the success of party nominated candidates.
The prime minister believes that nobody will be able to defeat Awami League in the next election if the party remains united.
She said the Awami League Parliamentary Board nominated candidates after considering the party’s survey reports and their popularity.
A total of 4,023 aspirants collected Awami League nomination forms. Among them, the party nominated 240 candidates and shared the rest of the seats with Grand Alliance partners, which includes the 14-Party Alliance, Jukta Front, and Jatiya Party.
Of the deprived aspirants who did not get party nominations, 79 filed nomination papers as independent candidates.
The 11th general election will take place on December 30 and Sunday is the last day to withdraw candidature.
Earlier, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Secretary had said that if the rebel leaders did not follow the party guideline and pull out of the polls by December 9, they would be expelled from the party.