Obaidul Quader seeks maximum unity with leftist parties

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has called on leftist parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), to stand by the ruling party ahead of the upcoming 11th general election.

“Let us form maximum unity at minimum points. Let us join hands with the spirit of the Liberation War and other common issues,” he said while addressing a program marking the 51st founding anniversary of the Samyabadi Dal at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.

His remarks were apparently aimed at the Left Democratic Alliance, a platform of eight leftist parties led by CPB and formed in July.

He also lauded the leftist parties for not forging a coalition with the communal forces, adding that Awami League respected their ideology. 

On national unity, he said that Awami League also wanted a coalition. “We want unity against evil, communal and anti-liberation forces. We want to unite with the pro-Liberation War forces.”

His remarks come in line with an Awami League initiative launched to bring CPB and its alliance members to participate in the upcoming election alongside the ruling party.

On July 25, the Awami League leader had also made an unscheduled visit to CPB's office and met CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim and General Secretary Md Shah Alam.

The leftist parties, however, have been brushing off the idea of joining the Awami League-led coalition.

Earlier in 2014, the Awami League had tried to persuade the CPB to join the 14-party alliance and take part in the election, but the CPB boycotted the 2014 national polls.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul on Tuesday also alleged that several political parties were anti-Awami League and anti-Sheikh Hasina. "And they are targeting Sheikh Hasina. Their main objective is to remove her from the political scene."

However, he said, these parties would undoubtedly fail to accomplish that.

On BNP’s allegation that the government was having its leaders arrested ahead of the national polls, Obaidul said: “Police have information that they [BNP leaders] are planning criminal activities like they did in 2014.”

He asked BNP leaders to go to the court and prove that they are not guilty as they have the right to do so, saying that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was granted bail in 30 cases.