report in bdnews24.com, Jan 25, 2018 at 23.51hrs
Lalmonirhat: Obaidul Quader has hinted at leaving the BNP out of the tiny polls-time government Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has spoken about.
“Since they (BNP) are not in parliament, in what logic should we ask them to be a part of the election-time government?” the Awami League general secretary asked after a party programme in Lalmonirhat on Thursday.
This is the first time Quader has spoken on the issue after Hasina in her address to the nation on the government’s anniversary had made it clear that she will be heading the government during the polls.
She also said an ‘election-time government’ will be formed following a cabinet reboot again this time like in 2013.
The Awami League chief expected all the political parties registered with the Election Commission to fight it out in the crucial ballot.
The BNP sits out of parliament after boycotting the 10th parliamentary elections held on Jan 5, 2014, and marred also by widespread violence.
Citing the violence unleashed by the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami during the elections instead of responding to Hasina’s calls for talks before the polls, the Awami League has refused the BNP’s call for dialogue ahead of the election this time.
“When the BNP had representation in parliament, the daughter of Bangabandhu (Hasina) had even wanted to give them the home ministry (in the polls-time cabinet),” Quader said on Thursday.
Quader also responded to the BNP allegation that the government has decided the verdict of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against its chief Khaleda Zia.
“The Fakhruddin-Moeen Uddin caretaker government, not us, was in power when the case was lodged. But the BNP is falsifying that we are harassing them.”
“The court, not the government, is trying Khaleda. She will be punished if found guilty, but will be released if found innocent – it’s very simple,” he added.
Speaking at the programme, he urged the leaders and activists of the party to get ready for the next elections.
“Don’t abuse power; otherwise you’ll not get the Awami League’s nomination in the elections,” he warned.
https://bdnews24.com/politics/2018/01/25/al-plans-to-keep-bnp-away-from-polls-time-govt-as-it-sits-out-of-parliament
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