Conspiracies afoot to dislodge govt

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched at home and abroad to dislodge her government and hand over power to an unelected government, said sources in the AL Central Working Committee.

She vowed to resist this and plots against the upcoming general election.

On Wednesday, she said she would never lease out St Martin’s Island to stay in power. Yesterday, she spoke of mounting pressure on her about the island and that she would never give in as she does not assume power by giving an undertaking.

Hasina said this at the meeting of the ALCWC, the highest decision-making body of the party, at the Gono Bhaban.

During the six-hour meeting, which began at 10:30am, eight AL organising secretaries presented their reports on eight divisions. The AL chief enquired about problems at the grassroots level.

She repeatedly asked her colleagues to strengthen and unite the party since there is not much time left before the elections and added that frantic election preparations would start in October, said meeting insiders.

The next national election has to be held within 90 days prior to the end of the current parliament’s tenure, which is January 29, 2024.

Hasina asked AL MPs to go to their constituencies, bridge the gap with the grassroots, and quell internal feuds.

She asked leaders and AL nomination seekers to make door-to-door visits to constituents and publicise the government’s achievements. “Remember you have two weapons — one is the government’s achievements and the other is the misrule of the BNP-led four-party government,” she was quoted as saying by a central leader.

The PM said if the incumbent MPs believe they would get party tickets and win staying in Dhaka, they would be wrong. She reiterated that the election would be participatory and tough, said meeting insiders.

She said questions were being raised about the electoral system, but her government would give a befitting response by holding free and fair polls.

Hasina asked leaders to form fully-fledged committees at units in which councils have been held and not to hold any councils before the election.

She cautioned them about putting infiltrators and “hybrids” in the party posts, said sources.

After ALCWC member Mushfique Hussain Chowdhury alleged that senior and dedicated leaders were being dropped from grassroots committees, the AL president said new blood will be injected into the party but not by sidelining experienced and senior leaders.

During the AL organising secretary’s presentation on Khulna division, allegations were raised that the son of Motiar Rahman, newly elected president of Jhenidah’s Shailkupa upazila unit AL, vandalised idols at a temple and grabbed the temple’s land.

The AL chief said those linked to the repression of minorities and grabbing of their properties have no room in AL. She asked for Motiar to be removed, said sources.

She urged party leaders to refrain from mudslinging. Many nomination seekers are raising allegations against party MPs, Hasina said, adding that speaking against party MPs was tantamount to speaking against the party.

She said she has all sorts of reports on MPs and that the party would nominate people considering their popularity.

Hasina said a fresh survey on the leaders’ popularity was being carried out.

AL presidium member Shajahan Khan and AL Joint General Secretary Bahauddin Nasim had an altercation in the meeting after Nasim accused Shajahan of patronising criminals, sources said.