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GENERAL ELECTION

Rally behind whoever the party picks
Hasina tells AL leaders at special extended meeting
ASHIK ABDULLAH APU
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday made the leaders from all tiers of her party vow that they would forget the divisions and campaign for those who get the party’s nomination in the coming national election.
“Whoever we nominate -- no matter how good or bad, blind or lame -- you have to promise that you will work for them,” Hasina told the party’s special extended meeting at the Gono Bhaban.
At that, the nearly 5,000 AL leaders in attendance raised their hand to commit.
“When we give nominations, we follow certain rules. I do not sit idle at home. I work to build the country all day. I also do the work of the party. We conduct surveys every six months on who is in what state, the status of our lawmakers or the status of our elected representatives … We take these into account when we announce nominations.
“After the nominations are announced, some people think to themselves, ‘Since the party has not nominated me, I should work against the person who got the nomination. The party will win the rest of the [parliament] seats…’ In doing this, you will make all [of the party] lose.”
The prime minister then slammed those who openly criticise lawmakers or local leaders from their own party, multiple AL leaders who attended the meeting told this correspondent.
“By trying to defame others, you actually defame your party, and the boat [AL electoral symbol] ends up getting fewer votes.”
Addressing the meeting that went on from 10:30am to 6:00pm, she spoke of her plans to sit with the district-level leaders in phases to hear about local politics.
The Gono Bhaban premises were abuzz as the meeting resembled a reunion of the leaders.
They exchanged greetings, chatted among themselves and took selfies in a festive mood. The leaders were excited as they got the chance to speak in front of the AL president.
When the local leaders spoke, Kanai Lal Biswas, acting general secretary of Pirojpur district AL, expressed his desire to be the fully fledged general secretary.
Hasina replied that everyone who were in “acting” positions should be considered fully entitled to the posts.
At least 43 AL different district-, upazila-, and thana-level leaders speke at the event, and many of them talked about their alienation from lawmakers.
Some of them urged the top leadership to nominate those who are popular in their constituency.
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“After the nominations are announced, some people think to themselves, ‘Since the party has not nominated me, I should work against the person who got the nomination. The party will win the rest of the [parliament] seats…’ In doing this, you will make all [of the party] lose.”
Sheikh Hasina