National Unity impossible excluding AL: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today claimed that no Jatiya Oikya (National Unity) will be possible excluding Awami League as Awami League is the most popular political party in the country.

Quader, and also the Awami League general secretary, made the remark while addressing at a street rally held in Feni on Saturday afternoon.

“Awami League’s popularity rank is 64 percent in the country now and the people, who dream of unity in Bangladesh except Awami League, are living in the fool’s paradise,” he added, pointing to the today’s rally of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya Convener and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain said they are united to build a people’s Bangladesh as the people of the country do not have the freedom to move.

Dr Kamal Hossain came up with the comment while giving his introductory speech at the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (National Unity Process) rally held at Mahanagar Natya Mancha in the capital on Saturday.

“We are unified because the people of the country now want to see good governance, to ensure a safe and stable society,” he added.

Dr Kamal Hossain, and also a noted jurist in the country also said: “It has been said- people are the owners of all powers- but today they are deprived of exercising voting rights, human rights and constitutional rights. So people will have to be united to restore these rights.”

“I hope, those who have come in this civil society rally today, they will talk about the rights of the people and work for the wellbeing of the public,” he said.

Earlier, four senior BNP leaders have joined in the Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya (National Unity Process) rally at Mahanagar Natya Mancha.

BNP now has formally joined the Jatiya Oikya Prokriya in a bid to create a greater national unity to ensure holding a free, fair and credible national election slated to be held by the last week of December this year.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members- Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed and Dr Abdul Moeen Khan- have joined the programme around 3:15 pm.

Jatiya Oikya Prokriya Convener Dr Kamal Hossain called for the rally while Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Badruddoza Chowdhury is the chief guest in the programme.

On September 15, Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front and the Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya formally announced the journey of a ‘greater national unity’ ahead of the upcoming national polls, aiming to ensure a functional democracy in the country.