Fearing anarchy, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday once again warned party supporters about today’s grand rally of the BNP and like-minded parties in Dhaka.
People are afraid that the BNP and Jamaat will again commit arson and sabotage ahead of the next elections, he said during a press conference at the party office on Bangabandhu Avenue.
“Awami League leaders and activists will not allow democracy to be disrupted. This is our promise. We have nothing to fear. People today are afraid of sabotage, threats. People think that the 2014-15 vandalism, arson, and militancy may arise again around elections,” he added.
“We have to be on guard. They have evil plans. They are planning sinister games together with one or two more evil powers. Always be on alert. You don't have to leave the venue at the end of our rally tomorrow (Saturday). Take measures according to the situation,” he told party supporters.
Senior leaders of the Awami League were present at that time.
The ruling party’s “Peace and Development Rally '' is set to be held at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. The Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units of the Awami League are organizing the rally. The BNP has called a grand rally at Naya Paltan, demanding the resignation of the government, the same day.
Obaidul Quader asked the party leaders and activists to take responsibility themselves. “Everyone has a responsibility. This war belongs to all of us. This is another Liberation War. You have to be in the field with this in mind. We have to be united. We can strengthen Sheikh Hasina's hand if we are united. To save Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina must be kept in power. Keeping this in mind, the Boat (electoral symbol of the Awami League) should reach the port of victory.”
He added that the Awami League does not want unrest. “We are in power. We want the election to be peaceful…we want the election environment to be peaceful. So there is no scope for us to create any disturbance.
“The BNP wants to question the election…they want to disturb the entire environment by creating anarchy, chaos, sabotage in the country,” Quader further said.