Celebs pitch in for AL election campaign
A number of educationalists, actors, actresses, musicians, singers, artists, sports personalities and civil society members participated in ruling party Awami League’s electioneering at the city’s Central Shaheed Minar on Thursday, reports UNB.
Awami League Publicity and Publication Sub-Committee, on behalf of the party, formally inaugurated the election campaign for the 11th parliamentary election.
Hasan Imam, Shomi Kaiser, Zahid Hassan, Aruna Biswas, Simon, Mahfuz Khan, Shakil Khan, Rokeya Prachy, Ajmeri Haque Bandhan, Tarin Jahan, Sweetie, Raisul Islam, Tareq Sujat and singer SD Rubel were present among the cultural personalities. Besides, sportspersons Abdul Gaffer, Satyajit Das Rupu and Badal Ray also joined the campaign.
AL secretary general Obaidul Quader, speaking as the chief guest, said, “The response for 'boat' from the general public seems like 1971. The participation of the cultural personalities added a dimension to the campaign for the poll. So the defeated forces of ‘71 will be the losers in the coming election for the participation of the mass people.”
Referring to the campaign as a matter of spirit and passion, he said, "This consciousness has come here because of the emotional values. Awami League will be the winner in the next election.” He called for the people to avoid the defeated power of 1971 as they cannot win the elections in 2018.
Mentioning Ziaur Rahman as the leader of communal forces in Bangladesh and ‘by chance’ freedom fighter, he said, “Zia’s BNP is a party of killers, and corrupts. This party had been announced as 5-times champion in corruption during their tenure while their party leader, the corrupt Tarique Rahman is now convicted.”
He added “Kamal, Manna, Kader Siddique are led by Tarique from London. On 30 December, people will prove that the BNP is a corrupt party and Awami League is a party for development.”
Distinguished playwright Hasan Imam, speaking on behalf of the present artistes said, "We are always on the side of Awami League. Awami League favours the freedom fighters. Besides, the struggle of artistes has started with the political struggle since 1971. The artists played a vital role in the liberation war.”
AL publication secretary Hasan Mahmud was also present at the programme.
The organisers said the celebrities “who believe in the spirit of the liberation war” were taking part in the colourful campaign of the AL.
The day’s programme at the Shahid Minar began through the national anthem. Later, a documentary on different development activities of the government during the last 10 years was screened. A video on violent activities of BNP-Jamaat to foil the trial of war criminals was also screened.
That was followed by a rally rounding Banglamotor, Farmgate, parliament building area which began from the central Shahid Minar ended at Dhanmondi Road 32.
The assembled artistes will be disbanding to visit various places around the country as part of the ruling party’s push to retain power.
Earlier, AL president Sheikh Hasina kicked off the campaign by visiting the Mazar of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj on 12 December. In line with her programme, the party-wide formal campaign was inaugurated in the capital on Thursday.