A number of lawmakers of the ruling Awami League Tuesday demanded that party President Sheikh Hasina replace the party’s spokesperson with someone else to remove all sorts of existing confusions.
They pointed out that the main opposition BNP had a spokesperson, which made the party organised and devoid of any confusion whereas in the Awami League, leaders expressed different opinions on a single issue, which createdmisperceptions.
They were speaking at a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party held at the prime minister’s official residence Ganabhaban. The meeting was followed by an iftar party.
Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Hasina was critical of some senior and junior MPs for having started the spate of criticism of ministers in parliament which, she said, had given the opposition the scope to talk against the government.
“Some of our MPs created a ground that goes against the government. The conspiracy against the party and the government within the party are still going on,” she said.
The Awami League chief cautioned that the person whose activities were questionable would not get the party’s nomination next time.
AL lawmaker from Chittagong Samsul Haque Chowdhury told the meeting: “There should be one spokesperson to talk on any important issue. Leaders of our party have often taken different stands on a single issue which created confusions.”
Sources attending the meeting said lawmaker Sohorab Ali Sana of Khulna 6 constituency, ABM Abul Quasem of Chittagong 3, and Goalm Dostogir Gazi of Narayangang 1 had also raised the same demand.
AL General Secretary and spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam recently came under harsh criticism within the Awami League following the party’s consecutive defeats in five mayoral polls. Some party leaders had even earlier demanded his resignation although they had not mentioned Ashraf’s name.
Sources said at Tuesday’s meeting Ashraf had advised the party lawmakers not to be idle and work hard for the organisation.
A few MPs told the Dhaka Tribune that during iftar a number of lawmakers sitting in groups at different tables had talked among themselves, saying Ashraf’s laziness had “possessed” them. They said it was Ashraf’s idleness that had led to the party’s defeat in the five city corporation polls.
Many lawmakers were busy talking to each other loudly during Ashraf’s address instead of paying attention to the general secretary’s speech.
After Ashraf, Sheikh Hasina addressed the meeting and asked the lawmakers to build relationships with activists at the organisation’s grassroots level.
“Most of you have no relationship to the leaders and activists in your constituencies. Under this circumstances, you cannot win an electoral battle,” Hasina was quoted by a lawmaker as saying.
Hasina also asked the MPs to frequently visit their constituencies.
“Many MPs think that they will win in the parliamentary polls. The mayoral candidates had talked to me, expressing confidence about winning. But, you will not achieve success if you sit idle,” Hasina said.
A lawmaker demanded trial of those responsible for the share market scam, saying: “The main person behind the scam is very close to you [Hasina].”
Hasina replied: “Do you mean Salman F Rahman? You never name [Lutfor Rahman] Badal and [Mosaddak Ali] Falu, which is why their names do not appear in the media.”
Hasina praised the MPs elected from the reserved seats for being vocal against the BNP’s “false” allegations while most other MPs remained silent.
At the beginning of the meeting, the AL president alleged that some vested interest were out to malign politicians and political parties. She called upon people to remain alert about their ill attempts.
She said the quarter was trying to foil democracy and prevent the country’s development. Hasina reiterated that the next general elections would be held as per the parliamentary system of democracies.
