Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today cleared his party’s stance over student politics saying that the politicians start their career from student politics and thus his party does not support banning it.

“We don’t support banning student politics but the people indulged in misdeeds in the name of politics will be brought under law,” Quader said while talking to reporters at Rajshahi Circuit House this afternoon.

Stating that the ongoing purification drive is going on in line with the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said the drive will be continued against drug traders, gamblers and tender manipulators.

“We have started the drive from our own part. The drive will be conducted everywhere gradually,” said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.

Responding to a query about the present state of Jubo League Chairman Omar Faroque, he said, “He (Faroque) is not in hiding, but there are some allegations against the Jubo League leaders.”

“They (Jubo League men) are under scanner,” the Awami League leader told a questioner.

Addressing a meeting in Rajshahi later, Quader said Awami League will emerge as a smart and modern political party through its upcoming national council scheduled for December 20-21.

“There will be no room for extortionists, tender manipulators and land grabbers and drug dealers in the new committee,” said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.

Addressing the meeting with the party’s Rajshahi divisional representatives, he also called upon the grassroots level leaders to update the party’s local committees of affiliated wings, which tenures have already expired, before the national council.

“If you (leaders) are failed to update the committee then the incumbent committee will be dissolved,” Quader said.

Sounding a note of caution that the party men who are indulged in criminal activities will not go unpunished, Quader said there is no need of opportunists in the party’s leadership.

“We want leadership with a clean image in the party,” the AL leader said. 

The minister said the ongoing crackdown against corruption, drugs and militancy will continue not only in Dhaka but also across the country.

Awami League is going to hold the 21st national council amid the party’s purification crackdown against the casino and illegal business across the country.

Sheikh Hasina, in an informal meeting with her party’s senior leaders at the Gono Bhaban recently, asked leaders of her party’s all associated bodies to hold their council within the timeframe.

The council will be inaugurated at Dhaka's historic Suhrawardy Udyan around 3:00 pm on December 20 and the session will continue till December 21, according to the party decision.

The 20th triennial national council of Awami League was held at the same venue on October 22-23 in 2016.

The party’s councillors unanimously elected Sheikh Hasina as its president for the eighth consecutive term and Obaidul Quader as general secretary for the first time.