Game is on: Obaidul Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said the game is on between the Awami League and the "forces of corruption".

"It will be a fight against vote rigging, corruption, and against those who play with people's fate," he said at the triennial council of Awami League Dhaka District unit at the old DITF ground in Agargaon Saturday (29 October).

Addressing the BNP, Quader said the public will stand with Awami League against communal forces backed by the BNP.

He also claimed that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is receiving funds from foreign countries to launch movements against the government.

Terming Fakhrul as a puppet of foreign powers, Quader said, "We have received information that Fakhrul is receiving money from Dubai."

Photo: TBS

He also mocked the BNP's fourth divisional rally, which was also held on Saturday in Rangpur, and said the public-gathering in the AL council is much bigger.

"People have been lying on the stage, lying on the field, lying on the streets since three days ago. And Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is lying on the bag of money. Money is coming from Dubai in the name of the conference, and they are lying on the money. BNP is happy if it gets money," said Quader.

"How many people are in Rangpur (rally)? 50-60 thousand? Meanwhile, lakhs of people gathered at the Awami League conference in Dhaka district," said the ruling party general secretary.  

He also claimed that at least 10 lakh people will gather in Chattogram when Prime Minister and party chief Sheikh Hasina will attend the rally there.

Photo: TBS

The AL leader further said the BNP during its reign destroyed the country's economy.

"During BNP rule the forex reserve was not even $4 billion. BNP swallowed the economy of this country. This time, if it comes to power, BNP will swallow the nation clean," he said.

Quader also warned BNP leaders and activists asking them to keep their events peaceful.

"Get rid of the spectre of the caretaker government. The High Court sent it to a museum. Time will tell whether you (BNP) will join the election or not," he said.

"Remember, no matter how many rallies they (BNP) hold, no one can defeat a united Awami League," he told AL party workers.

Photo: TBS

The AL Secretary General also announced Benjir Ahmed as Dhaka District Awami League president and Paniruzzaman Tarun as general secretary for the third consecutive term.

Thousands of leaders and activists attended Awami League's triennial conference organised by Awami League Dhaka District unit. Workers from different places in Dhaka district started arriving at the conference venue even before the start of the event.

"We are going to deal with those who set the country back 50 years. Dhaka District Awami League will face anti-national forces," State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said, addressing the triennial conference of Dhaka District Awami League.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the country is moving forward under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

"And I hear BNP will seize power on 10 December and has already formed their cabinet of ministers. I do not know how. But Awami League lives in the ranks of the people, runs with the mandate of the people," he said while addressing the rally.

In the next election, Sheikh Hasina will win with the boat symbol and become the Prime Minister again, he added.

Addressing the current economic crisis, the home minister said commodity prices increased a little due to global conditions.

"Load shedding is going on but the electricity crisis will be resolved by December," he said.

Education Minister Dipu Moni said Awami League will not allow the peace and order in the country to be destroyed.

"Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, we will move ahead with the goal of making Bangladesh a developed country in 2041," she said.

Terming BNP as murderers of 15 August and 21 August, the minister said, "This evil force must be stopped."

Central AL member Anwar Hossain said that if BNP makes any anarchy they will be countered.

The Awami League conference came on the same day the BNP held their fourth divisional rallies in Rangpur.

The first three rallies were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna.

Earlier on Friday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that the BNP will be made to understand from Saturday what "mass-gathering" really is.

Although it was supposed to start at 2pm, the conference started at 3pm at the old DITF ground of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Agargaon in the capital.

Leaders and activists started to throng the venue located in the capital's Sher-E-Bangla Nagar in a festive mood from 11am. Thousands joined the rally from different parts of the district in rented buses, pickup vans, trucks and personal vehicles.

The stage of the rally was built in the shape of the party's "boat" symbol.

Meanwhile, banners, festoons and posters covered the convention venue.

The last Dhaka AL triennial conference was held in September 2016.

Advocate Kamrul Islam MP of Dhaka-2 constituency chaired the conference while Salman F Rahman MP of Dhaka-1 constituency was present as the special speaker.