Awami League presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Wednesday said though the government assumed power through people’s mandate, it would have to face stiff challenges in the days ahead.
“We have no pleasant days ahead. Though we are in power through people’s mandate we have to face a stiff challenge in the coming days. There’s no scope before us to be complaisant. Otherwise, a situation like August 15 could be created again,” he said.
“Our objective is crystal clear and there’s no doubt or confusion in it. The next national polls will be held under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2019. We want participation of all the political parties including BNP in that election. We will go to the people’s doorsteps with the achievements of Sheikh Hasina,” Mohammad Nasim said calling upon BNP to take preparation for the next polls. “We will see who gets the people’s support (mandate),” the AL leader added.
Mohammad Nasim cautioned party leaders and workers while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised by Awami Swechchhasebak League (ASL) in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in observance of the 66th birth anniversary of Sheikh Kamal, eldest son of Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ensuring the forward march of the country consuming grief as her strength. She has also been completing many impossible tasks one after another. Facing all the obstacles and odd situation, she has held the trials of the killers of Bangabandhu and the assassins of 1971,” the minister said.
Pointing at the party leaders and workers, Mohammad Nasim said, “Don’t indulge in such activities which might defame Sheikh Hasina. Besides, the opportunity-seekers must be expelled from the party. We have many oppressed and dedicated workers in our party. Then what’s the necessity of inducting new ones. They are not required in our party.”
Drawing attention of BNP chairperson, the senior Awami League (AL) leader said, “I believe that your party (Begum Zia’s) will participate in the next national polls as you have no option left.”
ASL president Advocate Mollah Md Abu Kowser presided over the discussion, also addressed, among others, by former secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, AL organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, MP, ASL general secretary Pankaj Debnath, MP and liberation affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Liton.
