AL will face identity crisis: Noman

BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman has claimed that the ruling Awami League’s identity will be at stake after the Jan 5 national elections.

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Addressing a rally in Chittagong on Tuesday after the end of the fifth round of blockade enforced by the 18-Party Alliance, he said: “Their (Awami League’s) position will be like that of the post-BAKSAL era.”
The alliance, led by the BNP, is enforcing agitations to press for its key demand: conduct next parliamentary polls under a non-party caretaker administration.
But the government is moving ahead with its plan to stage the polls on Jan 5 under the government led by incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In protest, the alliance boycotted the elections.

Noman said: “The Awami League needed many years to re-establish itself again as a political party following the dissolution of BAKSAL,” he said.

BAKSAL (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League) was a political amalgamation of the Awami League and the Krishak Sramik Party that took place in June 1975, when other political parties were outlawed.

It was dissolved after then President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated with most of his family on August 15, 1975.

The BNP leader said: “In parliamentary democracy, at least a timid opposition party is needed to stage a farcical election. But this government cannot manage even that.”

He said Jaitya Party chief HM Ershad’s ‘release’ would be uncertain if he did not accept the government-imposed condition.

“The government’s condition is (his party’s) taking part in the stage-managed polls. That’s why all avenues are kept open for Ershad’s participation in the elections.”

Noman said the people would know the reasons behind the rift in Jatiya Party once Ershad secure release from the ‘hospital-turned sub-jail’.