Hanif warns that Khaleda may be dropped from politics too
Senior Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya yesterday claimed that many BNP leaders and activists were switching the side being disgruntled with the destructive political practices of their party.
Maya, also the disaster management minister, said they were scrutinising the BNP activists’ political records before inducting them in the Awami League.
“The BNP leaders who have contacted us do not like the BNP’s destructive activities. They want to join the Awami League. We will consider the requests of many others,” said the city unit general secretary while addressing a demonstration at Bangabandhu Avenue protesting yesterday’s hartal called by BNP ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and several other senior leaders recently alleged that the government was trying to break-up the BNP-led 20-party alliance using the intelligence agencies. The Awami League, however, denies the allegation.
“Only the militants, thieves and robbers will stay with Khaleda Zia,” Maya said. Referring to the BNP chief’s seven-point proposals demanding mid-term national election, he said: “The BNP chief has put forward seven-point demands. She can propose 700 points; but unless the BNP refrains from its destructive practices, none will be accepted.”
The next general elections would be held in 2019 as per the constitution. “It is our one-point answer to Khaleda Zia’s seven-point demands,” he quipped.
Maya claimed that the BNP chief was looking towards her “foreign masters” to help her come to power, “but her dreams will not be realised.”
Maya, however, declined to comment when contacted him over the phone to know details of the BNP leaders and activists interested to join the ruling party. “Come see me face to face, and I will give you the details,” Maya told the Dhaka Tribune.
Khaleda on Wednesday asked the government to sit for dialogue with a view to holding election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
But before declaring schedules, the former prime minister demanded that parliament and cabinet be dissolved, the Election Commission reconstituted, partisan government officials removed, deploying armed forces, releasing political prisoners, journalists and withdrawal of “false cases” and resuming operation of media outlets shut down during the Awami League government.
At another programme, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said Khaleda might be subtracted from politics if she took another wrong decision.
“Begum Khaleda Zia is not in Jatiya Sangsad for not participating in the January 5 national election. Now, she may be dropped from politics altogether if she makes more wrong decisions, and for her son’s [Tarique Rahman] remarks,” he told a discussion organised by Jatiya Sramik League.
Source: Dhaka Tribune