Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has taken a dig at the newly formed political alliance of anti-government parties, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, saying the people will not trust a coalition that has no specific leader.
“A specific and main leader is a must to lead and carry out a movement. The people won’t put their faith in a leadership with too many leaders,” he told a party rally in Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila on Tuesday.
Referring to Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, which is led by Dr Kamal Hossain and AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, and has recently received support from BNP, Obaidul said: “Who are the leaders of these 10 or 20 political parties? How can there be a movement without proper leaders?”
The minister also made similar remarks at another Awami League program at the district’s Kabirhat upazila later in the day.
Obaidul, also the road transport and bridges minister, said that if BNP returned to power, corruption would run rampant.
“BNP once made a lot of money through corruption, and are now trying again to get to power through nefarious means. But this time, the people will not allow it to happen,” he added.
And now BNP has joined the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya which would not last long, the minister said.
Recently, Jukto Front leader AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Gonoforum leader Dr Kamal Hossain jointly founded Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.
After the two leaders held a meeting at Dr Kamal Hossain’s home, they made an official statement along with leaders of several other parties at the National Press Club on September 15.
On Saturday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir extended his party’s support to Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.
Critical of the Jatiyo Oikya Prokriya, Awami League leader Obaidul Quader was impressed by the turnout of women at the Awami League rallies. “The presence of so many women proves they support Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her development work for the country.”