Awami League will expel any leader immediately if he or she decides to run in the 11th general election from any constituency rebelling against the party’s decision to nominate another, Obaidul Quader has warned.
The ruling party general secretary cautioned the party leaders while addressing a rally at the Amar School premises in Ashulia’s Palashbari, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on Thursday.
“This time, no one will be spared if they run as rebel candidates. They will be expelled from the party right away,” he said.
Quader said that internal conflict and division among party leaders in the different recent local government elections had resulted into Awami League’s loss.
“We will not let the same thing happen in the national polls. Organizational steps will be taken immediately if anyone violates the party commands and then start speaking ill of the party nominated candidate and the party,” he told the rally.
The event was organized by Awami League’s Savar Upazila unit as part of the party’s mass campaign ahead of the election.
In the last general election, many leaders from Awami League, apart from other major political parties, had contested without tickets from their organizations, rivalling party nominated candidates. Some of the rebel aspirants had also won.
Even though they were later welcomed back to their parties, Quader’s warning issued on Thursday hints that it will not be the case this time around.
The Election Commission plans to hold the next parliamentary election in the last week of December, and is making preparations for that.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, told the ruling party leaders and activists: “In the upcoming election, Awami League will only nominate the qualified leaders who are favoured by the public. Banners, billboards and festoons won’t help you this time.”
He added that party leaders and workers will have to work together to ensure the victory of the leaders who will be nominated and contend the election.
‘Oikya Front a rehab centre for killers, criminals’
The Awami League general secretary on Thursday also took a dig at Jatiya Oikya Front, saying Dr Kamal Hossain is leading a rehabilitation centre for terrorists and killers of BNP and it allies in the name of the recently formed alliance to ruin Bangladesh.
“Oikya Front don’t have a president or a convener or one top leader, other than its name. Kamal Hossain is also not holding any post. Then what will be the fate of Oikya Front in the absence of Khaleda Zia and his son?” he wondered.
Addressing another mass election campaign rally at Savar Bazar bus stand organized by Awami League’s Savar municipality unit, Obaidul Quader said that BNP had formed Jatiya Oikya Front together with “people of sick mentalities” to introduce “unhealthy” politics in the country.
He warned that if BNP tried to launch any “illegal” movement over the upcoming election, it will be thwarted with an iron fist.
The minister also said that there was no alternative to re-electing Awami League to continue the country’s current trend of development.
He said that BNP was a party of killers and terrorists and it does not do anything other than complaining now as it was not accepted by the people anymore.
“People do not trust BNP now as the party was the behind the August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League rally in 2004,” he added.
Among others, both rallies at Savar and Ashulia were attended by Awami League’s Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretaries Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and AKM Enamul Haque Shamim and local lawmakers Md Enamur Rahman and MA Maleque.