Staff Reporter :
New General Secretary of ruling Awami League Obaidul Quader, in his first press briefing on Monday – a day after winning the party’s prestigious position, laid high emphasis on strengthening party’s grassroots level targeting the next general election.
He announced two agenda – the first one is preparing the party for the forthcoming National Election scheduled for 2019 and the second one is defeating the communal force.
“It will need perfect teamwork in combination of disciplined workers to make the party prepared for the next polls… We’ll win the election making the party’s grassroots level much stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Quader said while briefing media at Priyanka Community Centre in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
“You [journalists] heard about a surprise. Syed Ashraful Islam proposed my name in the council for this post [of general secretary]… It was the biggest surprise!… It was the magic power of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership!” Quader, who is also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said.
He continued: “Today [Monday], I saw Syed Ashraf in the Cabinet meeting. He didn’t look disturbed. He was not frustrated. He has taken the matter easily… It’s the beauty of AL. I’ll work based on my experience which I gathered from his [Ashraf’s] directives during his seven years tenure as party’s GS. My views may be differed with him, but there will not be any squabble.”
When asked by the newsmen whether there would be any split in the party, Quader said: “I did never do politics of region [ism]. I have performed my duties throughout the country. We’ve a commitment in the politics. We can’t go beyond it.”
Vowing to meet AL President Sheikh Hasina’s target to win next polls, Quader affirmed that he will bring qualitative changes in the organization, particularly establishing discipline, in the party’s rank and file.
“We will have to bring behavioural change for getting acceptable to the general people. If we can’t change ourselves, then how can we will be able to change Bangladesh as dreamt by our leader Sheikh Hasina?,” he also said raising a question.
“Everything will go as usual… First and foremost, I do not think of myself as a Minister. I still think myself as an activist of the Sheikh Hasina-led party and a worker of the government,” the new GS clarified his stance.
Expressing his gratitude to Sheikh Hasina, the new GS said the AL Chief gave him the best recognition of his political career. “I’m grateful to the party President and I’ve no word to express my gratitude to her. I’ll use my merit, diligence, strength and ability for protecting Party Chief’s honour,” he said.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Quader said: “BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has congratulated me. I doubt whether his greeting was from the heart! If they [BNP] had attended the Council, there should not be any question. But they didn’t keep their word.” The AL leader, however, expressed optimism that all political parties will extend their cooperation to perform his duties.
New General Secretary of ruling Awami League Obaidul Quader, in his first press briefing on Monday – a day after winning the party’s prestigious position, laid high emphasis on strengthening party’s grassroots level targeting the next general election.
He announced two agenda – the first one is preparing the party for the forthcoming National Election scheduled for 2019 and the second one is defeating the communal force.
“It will need perfect teamwork in combination of disciplined workers to make the party prepared for the next polls… We’ll win the election making the party’s grassroots level much stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Quader said while briefing media at Priyanka Community Centre in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
“You [journalists] heard about a surprise. Syed Ashraful Islam proposed my name in the council for this post [of general secretary]… It was the biggest surprise!… It was the magic power of Sheikh Hasina’s leadership!” Quader, who is also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said.
He continued: “Today [Monday], I saw Syed Ashraf in the Cabinet meeting. He didn’t look disturbed. He was not frustrated. He has taken the matter easily… It’s the beauty of AL. I’ll work based on my experience which I gathered from his [Ashraf’s] directives during his seven years tenure as party’s GS. My views may be differed with him, but there will not be any squabble.”
When asked by the newsmen whether there would be any split in the party, Quader said: “I did never do politics of region [ism]. I have performed my duties throughout the country. We’ve a commitment in the politics. We can’t go beyond it.”
Vowing to meet AL President Sheikh Hasina’s target to win next polls, Quader affirmed that he will bring qualitative changes in the organization, particularly establishing discipline, in the party’s rank and file.
“We will have to bring behavioural change for getting acceptable to the general people. If we can’t change ourselves, then how can we will be able to change Bangladesh as dreamt by our leader Sheikh Hasina?,” he also said raising a question.
“Everything will go as usual… First and foremost, I do not think of myself as a Minister. I still think myself as an activist of the Sheikh Hasina-led party and a worker of the government,” the new GS clarified his stance.
Expressing his gratitude to Sheikh Hasina, the new GS said the AL Chief gave him the best recognition of his political career. “I’m grateful to the party President and I’ve no word to express my gratitude to her. I’ll use my merit, diligence, strength and ability for protecting Party Chief’s honour,” he said.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Quader said: “BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has congratulated me. I doubt whether his greeting was from the heart! If they [BNP] had attended the Council, there should not be any question. But they didn’t keep their word.” The AL leader, however, expressed optimism that all political parties will extend their cooperation to perform his duties.
