'People now focusing on election, not movement'

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said BNP could not take to the streets even for 10 days in the last decade. What movement are they going to launch in one month and now is the time to campaign, people are in election mood, not in the mood of movement.

He said this while addressing a street rally at SR Square in Karnaphuli upazila of Chittagong on Sunday.

In an effort to reach common people and highlight the development works undertaken by the government, the AL leaders embarked on an election campaign by road on Saturday.

A team of AL leaders led by Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, started from the party’s president’s Dhanmondi office at 9am for Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar on a two-day trip.

"After failing to wage any movement, BNP threw its weight behind the movement to reform quota system. Then they infiltrated into the movement for safe roads. People will no longer respond to their calls for movement, they have been rejected by the people," said Quader also Minister for Road Transport and Bridges.

Taking a swipe at the BNP leaders from Chittagong, Quader said: "BNP did not do anything good for the country, on what basis will they ask vote from the people of Chittagong. BNP leaders from Chittagong only talk tall without any work."

Stressing the importance for remaining united, Quader asked his party fellows to sink all differences.

"We have won in Gazipur and Khulna. Cox's Bazar is a stronghold of AL. The success of AL in the upcoming general election is sure only if we remain united. Please iron out all differences," urged Quader.  

Referring to Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Quader said, "According to a survey conducted by a foreign organization, around 66 percent countrymen have extended their support for Sheikh Hasina. Therefore, there cannot be a national unity leaving out 66 percent. The call for unity made by Jukto Front is not a national unity; rather it is a nationalistic communal unity."

The Awami League Presidium Member Abdul Matin Khasru, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, Joint-General Secretary Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif, Organising Secretary A K M Enamul Haque Shamim and Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, among others, were present at the rally.   

Quader is scheduled to attend party programmes in Karnaphuli and Lohagara upazilas of Chattagram and at Chakaria bus-stand in Coxs Bazar town and at Ramu Eidgah ground today. 

The AL leaders had flown to Sylhet on August 30 and travelled to northern parts of the country by train on September 8 as a part of their election campaign.