‘No room for AL politics in BD again’

Awami League (AL) has no right to engage in politics in Bangladesh, leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Member of Parliament from Cumilla-4, Hasnat Abdullah said on Monday.

“We may have differences among ourselves, but we are united on the issue of the Awami League,” he said.

He was speaking at a procession and roadside rally as the chief guest at Chauddagram Bazar in Cumilla on Monday.

“A party whose top leaders fled the country, leaving behind millions of its leaders and activists, has no right to engage in politics in this country,” he also said.

Hasnat Abdullah further said, “We do not own houses or cars in Begumpara, but many among the older generation do. Their children study abroad and seek medical treatment overseas. While ordinary people depend on healthcare services at home, some privileged individuals go abroad for treatment. We must come out of this discriminatory system.”

He also stressed the need to build an unemployment-free Bangladesh by engaging the youth in productive work.

“Merit must be ensured in every government sector. At the same time, employment opportunities should be created in the private sector, and the SME sector must be made more dynamic. These demands should be included in the upcoming budget. The country’s education system also needs modernisation,” he added.

Referring to the current political and administrative situation, he said, “We are now in the opposition. Some overenthusiastic police personnel, in hopes of promotion, are assaulting and harassing leaders and activists.

However, this is not solely the fault of the police. The police administration must be kept free from political influence. In the past, people were arrested for posts on social media, and the same situation still exists. We do not want such a Bangladesh.”

Describing Chauddagram as a border area, he said, “Those involved in drug trafficking are enemies of the country and the nation.

They are destroying the youth. The police and drug traders cannot coexist. A zero-tolerance policy must be adopted against drug dealers.”

The event was chaired by Abu Sufian Raihan, organising secretary of Jatiya Jubo Shakti’s Cumilla division, and moderated by Mamun Mazumder, joint convener of Chauddagram upazila NCP.
Besides, leaders from various levels also spoke.