Independent lawmakers on Sunday unanimously expressed their desire to stay with the Awami League and entrusted the responsibility of deciding the 10 reserved seats in their favour to the leader of Parliament and party President Sheikh Hasina, who was reelected prime minister for the fourth straight term in the January 7 election.
The premier did not agree to their request for possible integration raised at the post-election gathering at Ganabhaban last evening. She said: “You are all mine. I want to work with everyone.”
The independent members who will support it in those 10 seats will be the party chief's nominees.
The ruling party won a single majority by getting 223 seats in the elections. Besides, the Jatiya Party won 11 seats, and the Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Bangladesh Kalyan Party won one seat each.
Apart from this, 62 independent candidates were elected from their constituencies, of whom at least 58 are associated with the politics of the ruling party.
During the meeting, the MPs said they are all associated with Awami League politics and hold positions at different levels. So, they want to be with the Awami League in Parliament and introduce themselves as an MP of the Awami League.
“You are all mine. One group is my right hand; the other group is my left hand. You are all with me. I want to work with all of you,” Sheikh Hasina said.
Independent MP of Pirojpur-2 Mohiuddin Maharaj told Bangla Tribune: “We all wanted to be in the Awami League. We have left the decision on reserved female seats in the hands of the prime minister in favour of our individual MPs. Regarding the reserved seat, we will sign and submit the paper to the office secretary of the Awami League tomorrow. Later, it will be submitted to the Election Commission on behalf of the party.”
Abul Kalam Azad of Natore-1 constituency said: “We are soldiers of Bangabandhu. I am doing the politics of Bangabandhu's ideology. I will do politics according to the ideals of Bangabandhu. Reserved seats were discussed. Many have said that the decision should be left to the leader. We haven't officially signed yet. Tomorrow (today), it will be final. Let's see what happens.”
Habiganj-1 MP Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury echoed Azad. He said: “We have left the responsibility of taking decisions on all matters to the prime minister.”
After the meeting, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said the independent members of Parliament will remain independent and they will criticize the government constructively.
Quader said there were some conflicts among AL candidates and independent ones centring the polls. Some unexpected incidents also took place here and there. It cannot be allowed to continue, Quader said quoting Sheikh Hasina.
When asked whether independent MPs will be under a whip in Parliament, Quader said the chief whip will discuss the matter with the leader of the Parliament and take a decision.
