PM welcomes new political platform ahead of election

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today welcomed the emergence of a political alliance ahead of the upcoming elections expecting it to be contested by all political parties.

Welcoming the move of Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and others to form an alliance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said it will give the anti-Awami League people a new platform to stand in.

"I welcome their alliance. Let the unity prevails… this is good. This will be a great relief for the anti-AL people," she said.

The Prime Minister further said, “There’re two parties in Bangladesh -- Awami League and anti-Awami League. The anti-Awami League people will have to have somewhere to go."

She was addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganobhaban to brief the media about the outcomes of her just-concluded visit to Nepal for attending the 4th Bimstec summit.

Recently, Dr Kamal, B Chowhdury, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, ASM Abdur Rob and Kader Siddique agreed to forge a national unity ahead of the general election.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said the new combine will be a good one at least. "We’ll contest the election. I hope they’ll also take part in the polls in alliance." 

She said there should be an alternative in the country. "I convey my good wishes to them." 

Replying to a query, the Prime Minister questioned whether Dr Kamal Hossain and his associates really want the election. “There’s a section of people in Bangladesh who always sit there thinking that if there’s any unconstitutional and unelected government, they’ll get the flag… they’ll get some importance," she said.

Referring to Dr Kamal's recent remarks that there will be no election in the country, she said that means they are waiting for this. "If anything happens in our country, all look at Uttarpara. This is the reality. Anything might happen. My father was killed and there were attempts to kill me in broad daylight," she said.

The AL chief said Dr Kamal and his ‘companies’ do not want healthy democracy. "They utter democracy only in mouths but want to go to power through an undemocratic way." 

She also said a section of political parties wants to cash in on any sort of movement, even a non-political one. "I watch the movement first and allow it to advance. When I see any other party tries to capitalise on that movement, I separate the movement and the vested party stumbles on the ground." 

The Prime Minister said if anyone wants anything from her, he or she has to go for movement to realise it. "I won’t give anything without a movement. Mr Kamal and his associates have to go for a movement," she said, adding that if they become successful in their movement and if anyone comes from Uttarpara, they will attain success.

Source: unb