No compromise on constitution: Nasim
Awami League general secretary and LGRD minister Syed Ashraful Islam on Thursday said that the opposition could not gain any benefit through the anti-government movement demanding restoration of caretaker government. “The opposition could not gain any benefit out of movement. No solution would come from it. If you have any constructive proposal, come to Parliament which is the appropriate place for discussion,” he said.
Asraful told the reporters after paying tributes to the August 15 martyrs at the Banani Graveyard on the occasion of the National Mourning Day.
BNP led 18-party alliance are demanding restoration of the caretaker government system for holding a free and fair election. They are also threatening to wage a tougher movement to realise their demand.
About the Bangabandhu’s fugitive convicted killers, he said, “The trial of the killers of Bangabandhu was held long after his assassination in 1975. The verdict has been executed partially. We have patience. The fugitives would be brought back to the country under the legal system to execute the verdict.”
Urging all the people to build a Bangladesh imbued with non-communal and democratic ideals, Ashraf said, “All have to be united with the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a non-communal and democratic Bangladesh. The grief of August 15 has to be turned into power.”
In another function on the day, senior Awami League presidium member Mohammad Nasim on Thursday said that there would not be any compromise with any domestic or foreign individuals on holding the next general elections.
Rejecting the opposition demand for holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government, the former Home Minister said the next polls must be held in line with the country’s constitution. No local or foreigner’s advice would be entertained in this regard, he added.
He was addressing a meeting on the occasion of National Mourning Day organised by Bangladesh Krishak League (BKL), an associate body of the ruling Awami League in the city’s Kalabagan to observe the 38th anniversary of martyrdom of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Awami League leader hoped that there would be an understanding with the people of the country as per Constitution, not with any individual. “Why should we take advice from home and abroad?” he questioned.
Calling upon the opposition to take preparation for participating in the next general elections, Nasim said, if people cast their vote in favour of BNP, it will go to power but if they don’t do so, BNP will have to sit in the opposition bench.
Nasim further expressed optimism that the people would give their mandate in favour of Awami League again to run the state noticing the development activities of the government.
The senior AL leader reiterated that the next general elections would be held under an interim government headed by the incumbent prime minister. At the same time, he said, Sheikh Hasina will remain the prime minister of the country until the election is held.
BKL president Motahar Hossain Mollah presided over the meeting, which was also addressed, among others, by Awami League organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, information and research affairs secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, BKL general secretary Advocate Shamsul Huq Reza and vice-president MA Karim.
-With The Independent input
