AL should learn from NCC polls: Suranjit

No party can afford to ignore popular opinion, says the chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law

Dhaka, Nov 1(bdnews24.com) – The ruling party needs to take lessons from the Narayanganj City Corporation elections, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law Suranjit Sengupta has said.

Referring to party's decision to support Shamim Osman in the NCC polls, Suranjit said, "They (Awami League) have to understand that extending political support to somebody and people's politics are not one and the same thing."

The senior Awami League leader made this remark at a discussion meeting held on Jail Murder Day, organised by Bangabandhu Sanskritic Jote at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity on Tuesday.

"The decision without taking into consideration the opinions of party's grassroots cannot bring about any good result and this election has been its best example," he said.

"While casting vote, people don't bother whether you supported a particular candidate or nominated one in accordance with the psyche at the grassroots or otherwise," he added.

Terming the landslide victory of Selina Hayat Ivy a 'popular upsurge', he said people voted for her not because they looked upon her as an alternative to BNP-Jammaat or Mohajote (grand alliance). "She got votes just because she was an honest, sincere and one committed to people."

This election has also demonstrated that fair polls can be held even under an interim government. "This triumph of Ivy will bring about some notable changes in our 40 years' political culture."

Suranjit also called upon all major political parties to consider grassroots opinion while nominating candidates and extending support in the next parliamentary election.

Terming the decision of BNP candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker to pull out of the election at the eleventh hour as 'escapist', he said, "It has given credence to escapist politics of BNP, and the trend will continue in future, too."

Regarding non-deployment of troops by the government, as alleged by the Election Commission, he said, "There is a writ pending in the High Court and the answer to this would come from the court."

The chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law made a forecast that the new generation voters in the next parliamentary election shall become a major force through Facebook and other means of social networking.

"The politics of 'bloody civilians' has come to an end in this age of science and technology. This new generation will not join meetings and processions, but they will take the right decisions still."

He further said that the 'jail murder' has been 'a national debt', and that "the trial of the killers of four national leaders shall be taken forward in the interest of democracy".

These four leaders and close associates of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were killed inside the Central Jail on Nov 3, 1975 after the murder of the Father of the Nation.

Bangabandhu Sanskritic Jote general secretary Tarana Halim, MP, presided over the discussion. In her speech, she declared that they will conduct a signature campaign to demand speedy trial of war criminals.

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