Allies not to get over 7 constituencies: Quader

Governing Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday categorically said it won’t be possible for them to share more than seven seats with the members of 14-party alliance.

Responding to a question on dissatisfactions of the allies, the AL leader said, “There are more parties of the 14-party alliance. 14 parties do not mean one or two parties. They would have to be convinced that we are not complying. Those who are in the leading positions have been saying what they should have said. What is done is done. It’s not possible for us to go beyond this.”

Obaidul Quader was speaking at a press briefing at the party president Sheikh Hasina’s political office in Dhanmondi in the afternoon.

Speaking about the allies, Obaidul Quader said all of the leaders of the parties have the scope of contesting in the election. They can contest the election with their own party symbols. There is no bar for anyone.

He further said that the Jatiya Party will contest the election with their own symbol. Some of the 14-party leaders will be given the boat, the electoral symbol of Awami League.

“We have already informed our decision to the coordinator of the 14-party alliance. Let them join the election with their own electoral symbols. We can concede the boat symbol in seven constituencies,” he insisted.

Speaking about the AL’s meeting with the Jatiya Party, Obaidul Quader told the media, “The discussion with the Jatiya Party has been going on. Everyone talks only about seat sharing. But we are putting emphasis on the political value of this alliance and spending time discussing that aspect; talks on seats is less there. The main thing is politics, a political consensus. The election is against the communal and militant forces. We must beat this evil force in Bangladesh.  They have been committing sabotage without joining the election. The people do not support such sabotage. This sabotage has alienated the BNP from the people. They will be more alienated. They cannot wage the movement due to this alienation.”

Stressing that the independent candidates will not be urged to withdraw their candidature, the AL general secretary said, “Our party nominated candidates will also not contest the election by compromising with the independent candidates. There will be competition. It’s alright if an independent candidate wins. We won’t snatch victory from anyone forcefully.”

Remarking that they can’t guarantee anyone’s victory in the elections, Obaidul Quader said, “I, the general secretary of Awami League, also do not have the guarantee of victory. I also will have to compete with four other candidates. We have to concede if any of them wins.”

The governing party general secretary remarked that as the day of polling is approaching, like terrorism and violence, rumour is also spreading dangerously.

“Those who claim to practise freedom in thinking, those who are proponents of human rights, for example, TIB. Despite the participation of 28 political parties in the election, why won’t it be participatory; you won’t get an answer to this question from TIB. They have been doing this knowingly. Being a proponent of BNP’s ideologies, they have been acting blind,” he alleged.

He also posed a question to the TIB - what’s participatory election?

A few parties including the BNP are staying away from the election. What does it mean that the election won’t be participatory if the BNP does not contest?

Quader remarked that the TIB is a front organisation of the BNP.

Slamming the BNP leader Moyeen Khan for his statement that “there will not be any election across the country on 7 January; instead, the results, influenced by seat-sharing decisions made in the capital, will be announced on that day”, the AL general secretary said, “What seat sharing? We want to show this election as free, fair and unbiased as a record at any cost. Election is the life of democracy. That is why we also have a responsibility to make the electoral system as democratic.”

“We shall see from 18 December onwards, who dissuade the voters and obstruct the electoral process. And, the law enforcement forces are active to take actions about acts of sabotage. Despite this there are scopes of committing sneak attacks and sabotage. Thousands of people are not required to commit those crimes. A few people could carry out sneak attacks. A vested quarter is doing those,” he continued.

He apprehended more such acts as the day of voting is approaching nearer. “They have been preparing to foil the election. We have received information they are preparing to brandish arms during the election. They have been collecting arms.”

“The intelligence agencies also have received the information. Collecting arms is not a tough task these days. This is a global business,” he added.