PM urges Khaleda, meets AL nomination seekers
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government was ready to offer any ministry if the main opposition BNP joins the polls-time cabinet.
Once again urging opposition leader Khaleda Zia to participate in the next national election and give names for the polls-time government, she said, “We are ready to sacrifice anything for the welfare of the country and the people.”
Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, was addressing her party’s nomination seekers for the 10th national polls at Gono Bhaban.
Around 3,000 aspirants attended the programme where the party chief gave them directions about the preparation and campaign for the election and asked them to work together for those having the party nomination.
“You all have to work to win people’s confidence. It doesn’t matter who gets the party ticket. You all have to work for boat [AL election symbol],” she said and called upon the party men to be prepared to make the highest sacrifice.
She also said the nomination would be made on the basis of opinions of the grassroots and several survey reports.
None of the aspirants spoke at the meet.
About the polls-time government, Hasina said all the parties, except for the BNP, had joined it.
Only four parties — AL, Jatiya Party, Workers Party and JSD — have representatives in the newly formed election-time cabinet while two leaders each from Samyabadi Dal and JP (Manju) have been made advisers to the PM.
No component of the BNP-led 18-party alliance has agreed to be part of the interim government.
Hasina alleged BNP and Jamaat have merged together and are killing innocent people in the name of movement as these two parties don’t believe in Bangladesh founded on the spirit of Liberation War.
Regarding her meeting with the president on Monday, Hasina said, “The honourable president advised me to make the cabinet smaller and I have taken steps accordingly. Now the president will advise the Election Commission to declare election schedule and the Election Commission will do so.”
The prime minister added the election would be free and fair and the people will exercise their voting right without any fear.
Also at the programme, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the Awami League would come to power again with absolute majority if the party’s leaders and activists remain united.
He asked all the aspirants to work hard to win the nomination.
Source: The Daily Star