BNP daydreaming about midterm polls: AL Spokesman

He urges opposition to discuss everything in parliament
Awami League spokesperson and LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday blasted the BNP’s remark ‘on midterm polls after dissolving the parliament’ terming it a daydream.
Asked about the reaction about the comment of BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain – ‘the ruling Awami League has lost people’s confidence in last five months and if they (AL) want to justify their popularity, you better arrange midterm general election’- Ashraful Islam said, “Bangladesh is not a ‘fools paradise’ that we will have to disolve the parliament only after five months as the people gave their mandate for long five-year term. Besides, no emergency issue has arisen in the country at present favouring BNP’s funny demand.”
Syed Ashraful Islam, also the joint general secretary of the AL, was replying to the question of the newsmen at the party president’s Dhanmondi office after a joint-meeting of the AL presidium members and secretaries of the central committees.
He urged the opposition to join the House proceedings to make the parliament effective and functional for the interest of the country’s hard-earned democracy and independence.
“You (BNP) are boycotting the House with a silly, ridiculous and non-productive issue where there is no interest of the people as well as the country. We should talk about people-oriented national issues for which we had been elected parliament members,” the LGRD Minister continued, “I call upon BNP to stop daydreaming and join the budget session of parliament instead. You better come to discus any issue in the Jatiya Sangsad as a centre place for all sort of discussion where we can use the loudspeaker even sitting on the back rows.”
Replying to another query of newsmen, he said, “I’m not worried about their boycotting of the parliament. From my experience and confidence, I can hope that BNP will come back in the House proceedings considering the real facts and would play a positive role to give democracy an institutional shape.”
About the outcome of the meeting, he said, “Party’s 60th founding anniversary issue dominated the discussion with deputy leader in the parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.”
Asked about the date of the forthcoming party’s national council, the AL Spokesperson said, “Final decision regarding this will be taken in a meeting of the AL presidium members very shortly. On the other hand, in case we fail to meet the requirement of the Election Commission within July 25, we’ll submit a time extension plea to the commission.”
He said the meeting has only chalked out draft-programme for observance of the AL founding anniversary. The programme schedule would be finalised after the approval of the Prime Minister and Party President Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday).
The AL spokesman said, “The AL’s 60-year history is the history of Bangalis. All the achievements – including the language movement, restoration of democracy at different times – during these six decades were the spearhead by the Awami League. AL would observe its founding anniversary amid two-day long programme in the capital and elsewhere across the country from June 23.”
The programme include: milad mahfil, placing of wreaths at the portrait of the father of nation Bangabanhdu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj and capital’s Bangabandhu museum at Dhanmondi, colourful rally, cultural function, and discussion meeting in the capital.
On this day in 1949, the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was founded at the historic Rose Garden in old Dhaka. Later, the word Muslim was dropped from the party name to give it a more secular outlook.

Courtesy of The Bangladesh Today