AL to reply to BNP’s propaganda on streets

Awami League has devised a plan to counter on the streets the propaganda being spread by the opposition parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), against the government as well as to woo voters ahead of the next general election.

Insiders say the ruling party has planned to face BNP politically and remain on the street along with law enforcement agencies so that the BNP-Jamaat clique can in no way stage any untoward incident to put the government and the country into an awkward situation.

Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina in a recent meeting of the party expressed her intention to give more time to the party from now on and visit different districts to counter the falsehood being spread at home and abroad to tarnish the image of the government, they said.

BNP, which has been holding rallies in divisional headquarters, is asking the government to step down immediately for what it says failure in different sectors, and restore the caretaker government system for holding the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.

The election is expected to be held in January 2024.

BNP has also been issuing threats that they will not allow the government to hold the next election without a neutral administration while some of its leaders are saying that the country will be run at the directive of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia after December 10 next.

The AL insiders say they will give a befitting reply to all the issues raised by BNP-Jamaat at their rallies to be held in different districts.

As part of the plan, the AL president is scheduled to address a rally in Jashore today where she may unveil her plan for development if her party is voted to power in the next polls for the fourth term in a row.

The AL chief is taking part in any public rally outside Dhaka after 27 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The party has so far finalised two more programmes -- one in Chattogram and the other in Cox’s Bazar on December 4 and 7 respectively. “Under her prudent leadership, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been taking the country to new heights. She may unveil her plan for what she will do if Awami League assumes office for the fourth time in a row through voting,” said a central AL leader.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said the prime minister may deliver speech highlighting her plan on how to run the country and steer the country ahead amid global economic meltdown.

“Through the rally, a message will be sent to those quarters that are conspiring against the country. The message will be very clear that the people are with Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and that the people are against acts of violence and communal activities,” he said.

At a recent meeting with the grassroots leaders, the AL president directed them to remain united by reducing intra-party feud ahead of the next general election and put in all-out efforts to win the polls and face the opposition parties.

Sheikh Hasina also asked the leaders to project AL’s success stories with importance and portray the atrocities committed by the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

She also ordered them to remain vigil so that the opposition parties cannot unleash a fresh round of mayhem in the name of anti-government movement.