Hasina implores AL rebel candidates to step aside

Awami League president prime minister Sheikh Hasina has made an earnest request to the AL leaders, who defied party decision and become candidates in the parliamentary polls, to withdraw from the race.

"I hereby make a special request that you will withdraw your candidature and give all-out efforts to ensure victory of the Awami League-led grand alliance by means of carrying out polls campaigns together," she said in a letter to the AL rebel candidates.

The prime minister, through the letter, assured each of them that their sacrifice, efforts and sincerity would be remembered.

A press release that contained Hasina's letter, was issued by AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap on Saturday.

Still, about 50 AL rebel candidates are in the election race after the party's negotiation with some candidates.

In the letter, Sheikh Hasina said, "The 11th parliamentary election is very important to establish sustainable, democratic rule of law and to save the country from the onslaught of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. So we have decided to contest polls together with the like-minded other political parties."

She went on to say, "We firmly believe we will win the next general elections by a huge margin and get the opportunity to serve the people. You will be partner of that victory. I can certainly assure you that none has organisational strength to defeat our party symbol 'Boat' if Awami League remains united.”

"Application of your organisational skills, strength and ability in favour of the candidates nominated by the Awami League and the grand alliance in your constituency will ensure victory of Awami League," Sheikh Hasina told the rebel candidates.

In the letter, she said, "I expect you being an ideal and trusted leader, to actively and spontaneously participate with party leaders, activists and supporters in the election to maintain continuity of development and progress achieved in the last one decade under the leadership of the Awami League."