Mixed reaction in AL:Daily Sun

The attack on the motorcade of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia during her election campaign has sparked mixed reaction in the ruling Awami League. According to sources, some of the policymakers of the government think that the attack on Khaleda was quite normal, because those who were affected by the blockade-hartal are very much aggrieved. But some of the ruling party think that an adverse opinion wi

ll be created among the public as a result of the attack. The people will presume that there was government instigation behind the attack on Khaleda’s motorcade.  Awami League presidium member and health minister Mohammad Nasim said, “Neither the government nor the AL supports the attack on Khaleda Zia. We also do not encourage such act. We are against any attack on any political leader. The government will take necessary action against those who are involved in the attack, but at the same time Khaleda Zia will have to stop campaigning with motorcade to avoid such unwarranted incidents. She is creating provocation by conducting electioneering with a motorcade. The people who received burn injuries are getting angry at this.”    Information minister Hasanul Huq Inu said at a press conference yesterday, “Khaleda Zia herself is an object of provocation. She was involved in heinous fire-war in the recent days. She herself is an instigator of provocation. Under these circumstances, people may be angry just at the sight of her. Rather, it is better for her to stay indoors.”   Dhaka City AL joint secretary and food minister Kamrul Islam said, “Khaleda is out in the field to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the elections. There was a joyful and festive election environment without any clash anywhere. But, Khaleda Zia has created problems by embarking on  the campaign with an evil design. The election atmosphere is being hampered since she started the campaign.” Faruk Khan, a former minister and the coordinator of AL-backed mayoral candidate in Dhaka North City Corporation said, “No incident of attack on Khaleda Zia took place. The affected people have only expressed their angry reaction. This cannot be described as an attack.” More than one central leader of Awami League, on condition of anonymity, said the attack on Khaleda will pave the way for making the election controversial. It was the government that created by an opportunity for the BNP to come out of the three-month long non-stop programme.             Accordingly, Khaleda Zia has retreated for the time being from the programme. Now, no such situation should be created that may enable her to make the election questionable. Party sources said because of the code of conduct most of the central leaders of the Awami League cannot participate in the election campaign. Besides, important leaders of the city are not working wholeheartedly for the party-backed candidates. As a result, a favourable condition has been created for the victory of BNP-backed candidates after Khaleda’s joining the campaign. Under these circumstances, the central policymakers think that the AL will get benefit if the destructive activities of Khaleda Zia can be brought into light by creating obstacle to her election campaign.