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AL won’t budge an inch from constitution

Says Quader

  • Staff Correspondent
  • 19 July, 2023 12:00 AM
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Terming the BNP’s procession as marching toward their defeat, the ruling Awami League has reiterated that it would not budge a single inch from the constitution in holding the next parliamentary election.

“We don’t accept the BNP’s demand for the caretaker government system. We have a lone point that we will do what the constitution mentions. The Election Commission will follow the constitution and implement it. Except this, we will not budge a single inch from our stance,” AL general secretary Obaidul  Quader said while addressing a ‘peace and development rally’ in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the capital.            Dhaka City South Awami League brought out the procession in protest against the widespread violence and anarchy being staged across the country to create disorder in the name of movement for free and fair elections.

Several thousand leaders and activists boarding on pickups, trucks and riding on motorcycles joined the procession with placards and festoons, inscribed with the development activities being carried out over the last 14 years.

The AL spokesperson said there will be no caretaker government system and there is no question of resignation of the government.

“Like other democratic countries of the world, Sheikh Hasina will perform the duties of the government during the election,” he said.

“We have told representatives of the US and the European Union that we want peace. We want peace during polls as well,” he added.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, termed the BNP’s procession as marching towards their defeat.

“What did Fakhrul say today? Their road-march programme is a victory march. Actually it is their march towards defeat and their march towards fall has already begun,” he said.

Referring to the recent visits of the two foreign delegations, Quader said, “What has the European Union given (to BNP), a caretaker government? Resignation of the government or resignation of Sheikh Hasina? Who are they to give? What has the BNP got? Actually they got nothing.”

The AL spokesperson said the BNP thought that they would say that dialogues must be held, but that did not happen.

“There will be no caretaker government system or dissolution of parliament. There is no question of Sheikh Hasina's resignation,” he said.

AL senior leaders, including Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Qamrul Islam, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Mirza Azam and SM Kamal Hossain, among others, spoke at the rally with Dhaka City South AL president Abu Ahmed Mannafi in the chair.

After his speech, the AL brought out the ‘peace and development’ procession and paraded the city roads before ending at Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi.