With the 11th parliamentary election scheduled for December, the ruling Awami League has kicked off its polls campaign targeting the northern districts.
An Awami League delegation, led by the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader, left the Kamalapur Railway Station Saturday morning for Nilphamari.
Members of the delegation include Awami League Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, organizing secretaries Ahmad Hossain, Abu Sayed Al Mahmud Swapan, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Cultural Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil and Biplob Barua.
They are scheduled to hold more than 11 rallies at railway stations in Tangail, Pabna, Natore, Bogra, Joypurhat, Dinajpur, and Nilphamari districts.
Speaking to reporters at the Kamalapur Railway Station before his departure, Quader said the goal of their tour is to spread the message about the development projects undertaken by the government at grassroots level and strengthen the party.
He added that the organizational activities of the Awami League will play an important role in making the people at the grassroots aware of the “rumor politics” of the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Quader, also the road, transport and bridges minister, told reporters: "This is our election journey. The tour will continue.
He said they will launch a string of road rallies from September 13 in Chittagong, Mymensingh and Kishoreganj.
He continued: "The upcoming election will be competitive and we have to take preparations for it. If there are any internal disputes, we have to solve them. This campaign will revitalize the grassroots leaders."
In Tangail, the Awami League general secretary said that the boat symbol, which represents the ruling party in the polls, will once again be victorious in the 11th general election.
He also urged party leaders and activists to work together for the upcoming polls.
The minister warned that those who are planning to betray the Awami League will be expelled from the party immediately.
“The Awami League, with the support of the people, will resist the BNP’s conspiracies and ensure a fair election,” he said.
Addressing the ruling party leaders and activists at the rally, Quader said: “People do not want the BNP’s misrule anymore. They are satisfied with the continued development projects of the current government.”
Awami League’s Pabna unit arranged a meeting at Ishwardi railway junction where Quader said that the ruling party will not nominate any candidate in the next election ignoring public opinion.
"Candidates who ill-treat the people, who do not have public support, will not get nomination from the Awami League,” he said.
He also urged people to resist the BNP and their criminal activities as they did in 2014.
“They (BNP) were not able to occupy the streets in last 10 years. They do depend on different movements, but have failed to bring any result,” he added.
‘Vote AL for continuous development’
Obaidul Quader urged the people to vote for the ruling party if they want to continue the development of the country.
He also asked the party’s activists and leaders to work together to bring the party to power in the next election.
“No one will get Awami League nomination with images or billboards. Only those working with people for the development of the country will be chosen,” he said at Bogra’s Santahar Railway Junction.
