The numerous government messages adorning Dhaka’s billboards are meant for the leaders and activists of the BNP, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif has said.
He also proposed –- in a veiled challenge — that BNP start their own campaign to publicise their achievements, if any.
“The BNP finds it difficult to see the government’s achievements. So, we have arranged for them to be displayed on billboards for the BNP’s benefit,” said Hanif at a press conference at the Awami League’s office on Tuesday.
Of late, Dhaka’s billboards have been invaded by government messages few days ahead of Eid.
They call on citizens to re-elect the present government to power, saying ‘development needs continuity’.
Hanif said, “The BNP is on a smear campaign against us. They don’t notice the progress we have made. So we are making sure they do.”
BNP, the main opposition party, criticised the Awami League for the billboard campaign, saying it would not impress the people.
BNP Standing Committee member MK Anwar had said on Monday, “I am asking the government to give an account of their achievements. There is no point lying.”
“Why not make your own billboards to tell the people about the progresses you (BNP) made during your tenure,” Hanif remarked in response.
Hanif attended the Awami League’s extended meeting as part of the preparation for Aug 15, National Mourning Day, and the remembrance of the grenade attack on Aug 21, 2004.
Hanif challenged the BNP to prove the billboard claims were untrue, and demanded the party’s apology to the nation for not being truthful, if it failed to do so.
The BNP had claimed that the people had ‘turned their back on the government’ through their mandate in the city poll.
He said the BNP had lost its balance after its victory in the civic polls. “But it is they who are saying that city and national elections are not the same”, he said, repudiating the BNP claim.
“Awami League will win the next election if we can successfully tell the people about our achievements.”
The Awami League leader also urged the people to ‘defy’ the Jamaat-e-Islami shutdowns planned after Eid.
“The move to call shutdowns against a High Court verdict amounts to contempt of court,” he said. “We will not tolerate terror activities in the guise of shutdowns. This has to be resisted.”
Jamaat-e-Islami has announced strikes on Aug 12 and Aug 13 to protest of the verdict that announced ‘illegal and void’ their registration with the Election Commission.
“The time has arrived to ban Jamaat,” said Hanif, and added “the nation does not want to see this fascist group any more”.
Source: Bd news24