Hasina welcomes Dr Kamal-B Chy alliance but questions their intentions

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has welcomed the union of Dr Kamal Hossain’s Gono Forum with the Jukto Front alliance of AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 2 Sept 2018, 05:15 PM
Updated : 2 Sept 2018, 06:50 PM

She, however, has questioned the motive behind the new alliance ahead of the next general election indicating that the new coalition ‘wants to usurp power in undemocratic ways’.

“Mr Kamal Hossain and his associates will have to launch a movement. If their movement succeeds and someone comes to their aid from the ‘Uttorparha’, they will get what they want,” Hasina said a news conference at the Ganabhaban on Sunday.  

She did not clear what she meant by ‘Uttorpaha’.

From left to right: Mahmudur Rahman Manna, AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, ASM Abdur Rab and Dr Kamal Hossain.

In reaction to Dr Kamal’s doubt over holding the next general election, scheduled to be held by the end of this year, Hasina said, “I would ask whether Dr Kamal and Co want election.”

“A quarter always waits in Bangladesh to grab the power in unconstitutional ways without any election. They wish to fly the flag on their cars to raise their importance,” the prime minister said.

“They speak about democracy but their job is to grab power in undemocratic ways.

“And questioning the possibility of an election means they are waiting (for something to happen). Some always look to the ‘Uttorparha’ if something happens. This is the reality,” she said.

Dr Kamal, who formed the Gono Forum after leaving the Awami League, and former BNP leader Badruddoza announced last week that they would work together.

“I appreciate their unity. Such unity is needed,” the prime minister said. 

“Because there are actually two parties in Bangladesh – the Awami League and the anti-Awami League. Those opposing the Awami League need somewhere to go,” she said.

The Awami League chief hoped that the Jukto Front-Gono Forum alliance would contest in the election even if the BNP boycotts again.

“We hope they will contest in the election together. There has to be some alternatives. At least it should become a good alliance and let’s make the election contested,” she said.

Hasina’s political anatomy of Dr Kamal, Jukto Front leaders 

Hasina narrated Bangladesh's history of political events to describe Dr Kamal and Jukto Front leaders.

About Dr Kamal, a former minister of Bangabandhu’s cabinet, she said, “When Dr Kamal gives a tough speech, you should assume that his plane is ready and his luggage is in his car. We saw this when he was with us.”

Dr Kamal criticised the election of 153 MPs uncontested in the 10th parliamentary polls, but he himself had once been elected uncontested, Hasina said.

“No-one but Dr Kamal submitted papers for the seat left by the Father of the Nation, and he won uncontested. This uncontested MP calls himself the creator of the constitution, but now he doesn’t want to follow this constitution,” she said.

The election of an MP uncontested in general election is allowed by the constitution, the prime minister said.

Speaking about Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD President ASM Abdur Rab, who is also a leader of the Jukto Front now, Hasina said, “Mr Rab was in Chhatra League once. After he left the organisation, we would joke that he only speaks out when the time favours him, but remains silent during bad times.”

“It’s good that he is speaking now,” she added.

Rab, who was a DUCSU VP before independence, joined JSD after the Liberation War. He developed a good relation with military dictator HM Ershad later, but became a minister when the Awami League formed the government in 1996. Now he is a staunch critic of the Awami League government.

Abdul Kader Siddique

Hasina also spoke about Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique, a political ally of the Jukto Front.

“He (Kader Siddique) was also with us. I don’t know who put it into his head after the 1996 elections that he can become prime minister with votes of MPs from the Awami League and the BNP."

“We don’t know who showed him the goldbrick. He failed to win the election without the boat (the Awami League’s electoral logo),” she said.

About Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a former Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader who became an Awami League organising secretary before forming his own Nagorik Oikya party, the prime minister said, “He didn't feel comfortable he joined us.”
 

“I had told him that he could write well and asked him to write something in our favour. Apparently, he cannot write in our favour,” she said.   

Bangabandhu gave Kafiluddin Chowdhury, the father of Badruddoza, the option to run a programme on health awareness in Bangladesh Television, Hasina said.  

But Badrudduza joined the BNP and became the president of the country once.

“Even Khaleda Zia did not honour him. He was first driven out of the Bangabhaban and then chased away on the rail tracks,” Hasina said.   

“Badruddoza Chowdhury formed the Bikalpadhara (alternative stream), now the alternative has become his own stream,” the Awami League chief quipped.