14-party alliance: BNP’s road march a ‘political stunt’

The Awami League-led ruling 14-party alliance yesterday termed the BNP’s long-march towards the Teesta Barrage as a “political stunt.”

The alliance’s spokesperson Mohammed Nasim said: “The BNP has started a vehicle march in the name of a long-march. It is nothing but a political stunt.”

Following a meeting of the alliance at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi, Nasim told reporters that the BNP made the move to gear up its leaders and activists, who had been frustrated over the party’s boycott of the January 5 national election.

“Such programme has been outlined to gear up the party activists as people know about the water crisis. This cannot be an issue,” the spokesperson said, adding that the government also wanted a solution about water sharing.

Demanding justified share of water, the BNP started its scheduled long-march programme toward Teesta yesterday.

Hinting at the BNP, Nasim, also health minister, asked the opposition to cooperate with the government in solving the problem. He, however, criticised the BNP for not uttering a single word on the issue while they were in power.

Saying the government had solved the problems of the Ganges River, the minister expressed hopes of also solving the “Teesta problem.”

Nasim said a solution would be reached through bilateral discussions, adding:

“Whether or not there is a change in Indian government, we will get justified share of water through discussion; because we have the right of getting the water.”

He also cautioned: “If the BNP tries to create anarchy in the name of long-march, the government should handle them with an iron fist.”

Yesterday’s meeting of the alliance was held to finalise a countrywide tour programme of the 14-party for creating awareness against the BNP’s alleged move to foil the war crimes trial and democracy.

Nasim said the meeting decided on rescheduling rallies in Khulna, Savar and Mymensingh to April 26, 27 and 28 respectively, although a previous meeting had fixed the dates for April 28-30. The rescheduling was made as the health minister was scheduled to go to the US on a personal tour on April 28, his family sources told the Dhaka Tribune.

However, because of the rescheduled dates, the Workers Party – a key part of the ruling alliance – would not be able to join the rallies as the party’s ninth congress would be held in Rajshahi during April 24-27.

Anisur Raman Mollik, general secretary of the Workers Party, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were not “unhappy” for the rescheduling, but added that the party’s central leaders would not join the rallies because of the congress.

Apart from central leaders of the ruling Awami League, senior leaders of the alliance, including Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, Ganatantri Party General Secretary Nurur Rahman Selim, Communist Kendra Convenor Wajedul Islam Khan, Ganaazadi League President Abdus Samad, Tariqat Federation General Secretary MA Awal attended the alliance meeting.