Awami League leaders ‘romp around’ in race for power, says BNP

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP has seen the ruling Awami League’s recent visit to New Delhi as a ploy to seek support from India ahead of national elections to cling to power.

“They are romping around to garner the Indian support to stick to power through holding unilateral elections,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in a news briefing on Thursday.

His reaction came in response to AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif’s comments on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s “long-term plan for power”.

Rizvi said, “Did you as a group go to India to seek blessings from them? The government already knows that they are going to get only 20 to 22 seats in the next polls if the election is free and fair.”

“That’s why, they are running around for support.”

Hanif’s comments revealed a “dangerous truth” and a plan by the Awami League, a destroyer of democracy”.

“We’re strictly warning you that people will not spare you this time.”    

On Apr 22, a 19-member AL delegation led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader visited India at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

On Wednesday, Hanif at an event said: “People do not want Khaleda’s politics of corruption and killing. As long as popular leader Sheikh Hasina is alive, the Awami League, led by her, will remain in power.”