Two major parties to hit streets soon

The country's two main political parties -- Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) -- will take to the streets soon to implement their respective plans – all aimed at the next general election, sources in the parties said.

The AL would increase its organisational activities and hold extended meetings, street meetings, view exchange meetings and rallies, particularly at the grassroots level. All this will be done to strengthen the organisation and mobilise the people. The next general election is scheduled to be held in 2019.
The BNP will take to the street demanding a new Election Commission acceptable to all, which will hold the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner.  The party will take a tough stand on reconstitution of the EC in consultation with all political parties, as it feels that holding free and fair polls is important, said party leaders. That is why party chairperson Khaleda Zia will on Friday unveil a proposal on the formation of an Election Commission acceptable to all. 
The BNP will do whatever is necessary to ensure its plans and take the next course of action after seeing the reaction of the AL-led government, the leaders added.
Standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain hoped that the government would respond positively to the BNP proposal.
Another standing committee member, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said a sovereign and independent EC is needed to hold a free and fair election.
The former Army chief also said they would take their movement forward if the government does not show interest in forming an acceptable EC in consultation with all political parties. He thinks that the government has a compulsion to hold a free and fair election to restore its image and give importance to reconstituting the commission through talks. “Otherwise, we'll take the issue to the people, as well as political parties, civil society people, to force the government to accept out demand to form an independent EC,” he added.

BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the government should enact a law to form an independent EC for holding a free and fair election.
“If the government ignores our proposal, the party will decide on the next course of action,” he added. 
The ruling party also plans to hold organisational tours across the country from January, in an effort to strengthen the party at the grassroots level by minimising internal conflicts that have gripped local leaders and workers.
Central leaders of the party, including its new general secretary Obaidul Quader, will be part of the AL convoy during the tour of the party’s 78 organisational districts. Party insiders said central leaders would carry out visits till the upazila level of its organisational districts.
“We'll begin our organisational tours across the country from January to unite party leaders and workers at the grassroots level. In some places, party leaders have been divided over the latest local government elections. Such fissures would be minimised by our tours,” said newly appointed AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman.
The party has distributed divisional responsibilities among its four joint general secretaries and eight organising secretaries in an effort to strengthen the organisation from the central to the grassroots level.
When contacted, AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al-Mahmud Swapan told this correspondent that they have already started to visit their respective constituencies as per the directive of party chief Sheikh Hasina. “Our main task is to minimise the party’s internal crises by expanding organisational activities and making the party stronger and more dynamic. This way, the AL will become mass-oriented before the next general election,” he said.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina had directed her party leaders and lawmakers to go to their respective constituencies and make preparations for the next parliamentary election.
“Yes, we're preparing for the next general election. This is in keeping with our party chief's instructions. We'll do the task in full swing from January,” said AL organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim.

Two major parties to hit streets soon

The countrys two main political parties -- Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) -- will take to the streets soon to implement their respective plans all aimed at the next general election, sources in the parties said. The AL would increase its organisational activities and hold extended meetings, street meetings, view exchange meetings and rallies, particularly at the grassroots level. All this will be done to strengthen the organisation and mobilise the people. The next general election is scheduled to be held in 2019. The BNP will take to the street demanding a new Election Commission acceptable to all, which will hold the next general election in a free, fair and credible manner. The party will take a tough stand on reconstitution of the EC in consultation with all political parties, as it feels that holding free and fair polls is important, said party leaders. That is why party chairperson Khaleda Zia will on Friday unveil a proposal on the formation of an Election Commission acceptable to all. The BNP will do whatever is necessary to ensure its plans and take the next course of action after seeing the reaction of the AL-led government, the leaders added. Standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain hoped that the government would respond positively to the BNP proposal. Another standing committee member, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, said a sovereign and independent EC is needed to hold a free and fair election. The former Army chief also said they would take their movement forward if the government does not show interest in forming an acceptable EC in consultation with all political parties. He thinks that the government has a compulsion to hold a free and fair election to restore its image and give importance to reconstituting the commission through talks. Otherwise, well take the issue to the people, as well as political parties, civil society people, to force the government to accept out demand to form an independent EC, he added. BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said the government should enact a law to form an independent EC for holding a free and fair election. If the government ignores our proposal, the party will decide on the next course of action, he added. The ruling party also plans to hold organisational tours across the country from January, in an effort to strengthen the party at the grassroots level by minimising internal conflicts that have gripped local leaders and workers. Central leaders of the party, including its new general secretary Obaidul Quader, will be part of the AL convoy during the tour of the partys 78 organisational districts. Party insiders said central leaders would carry out visits till the upazila level of its organisational districts. Well begin our organisational tours across the country from January to unite party leaders and workers at the grassroots level. In some places, party leaders have been divided over the latest local government elections. Such fissures would be minimised by our tours, said newly appointed AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman. The party has distributed divisional responsibilities among its four joint general secretaries and eight organising secretaries in an effort to strengthen the organisation from the central to the grassroots level. When contacted, AL organising secretary Abu Sayeed Al-Mahmud Swapan told this correspondent that they have already started to visit their respective constituencies as per the directive of party chief Sheikh Hasina. Our main task is to minimise the partys internal crises by expanding organisational activities and making the party stronger and more dynamic. This way, the AL will become mass-oriented before the next general election, he said. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina had directed her party leaders and lawmakers to go to their respective constituencies and make preparations for the next parliamentary election. Yes, were preparing for the next general election. This is in keeping with our party chiefs instructions. Well do the task in full swing from January, said AL organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim.