Join next nat’l election to prove strength

Top leaders of the ruling Awami League yesterday called upon the BNP to participate in the next general election and said they did not want to have a walkover.

"Elections are needed to prove whose base is stronger. Let's compete in the polls. We don't want to score in an empty field. There will be a game in the election," AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said while speaking at a rally.

Dhaka city (south) unit AL organised the "peace rally" protesting the "terror and anarchy by the BNP-Jamaat" in front of the party central office in Gulistan. Over 500 activists joined the event.

Noting that the BNP started road march after losing its path, he said, "Their movement is going towards a dead end. Their politics has been stuck in mistakes and it cannot be recovered by holding road marches."

He said, "The Awami League never flees. Only the BNP did so after 1/11."

As BNP leaders and activists yesterday marched from the capital's Jatrabari to Shyampur to press home their 10-point demand, including the next national election under a non-partisan government, the AL's "peace rally" was to "counter" the BNP's programme.

"To retain the existence of your party, join the next polls that will take place in line with the constitution. Otherwise, you will plunge into an existential crisis," AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said at the rally.

Calling upon the BNP to take part in the polls, AL presidium member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said, "If you want to come to power, you will have to join the polls, you cannot come to power in any other way. Don't try to create anarchy on the streets. Attempts to create anarchy will be answered on the streets."

Activists of AL and its associated bodies took position in different parts of Jatrabari since morning as the BNP started marching from the area.

A group of AL men, led by former general secretary of Jatrabari AL Harunur Rashid Munna, took position in front of Jatrabari Park, while another group was seen near the Dhalpur community centre.

Activists of Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Krishak League and Chhatra League were on the streets in Shanir Akhra bus stand, Demra Staff Quarter, Sarulia and Konapara bus stand areas.

Also, the Jubo League Dhaka city (south) unit staged another rally near Victoria Park.

The AL will hold counter programmes today as well since the BNP will march from Gabtoli bus stand area to Mirpur-10 roundabout as part of its four-day demonstration.

The ruling party's Dhaka city (north) unit will organise a rally in Tejgaon area.

Although Quader, road transport and bridges minister, claimed that their programmes are not to counter the BNP's march, the AL held programmes that coincided with the past five events of the BNP.