Kamal Hossain's aim is to remove Sheikh Hasina from power: Quader

Jatiya Oikya Front Chief Dr Kamal Hossain's aim is probably not going to power but rather just to topple Sheikh Hasina's government, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

“Tarique Rahman, who is now the acting chairman of BNP, will operate the Oikya Front from London and Kamal Hossain formed the unity accepting his (Tarique) leadership. His [Dr Kamal Hossain] objective is not to assume power but to remove Sheikh Hasina from power,” he said.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting a newly-constructed building of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in the capital's Banani area.

Dr Kamal, also president of Gono Forum, has shut the door after inviting former president Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury [to Jatiya Oikya Front], he added.

Terming the unity “fragile”, the Awami League leader said, “Such unity will never work and their efforts will go in vain soon as it is an attempt to mix oil and water.”

Dr Kamal Hossain formed Gono Forum after leaving Awami League, and he thought thousands of people would join his party; but the countrymen didn't respond, he said.

“Now, Kamal Hossain is isolated from people and the newly-formed unity would not get any response from them either,” he added.

Regarding a note of dissent from Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder, Quader said the President formed the Election Commission through a “search committee”.

He (President) had sought lists of names from the political parties. As per the lists, Mahbub Talukder was nominated as EC from BNP. The EC could take a decision on the basis of majority, he added.