Election must be under incumbent govt: Nasim

CHITTAGONG, Feb 3 (BSS): Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Saturday said the next parliamentary election must be held under the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Next general election will be held in due time as per the constitution," Nasim said this as the chief guest while addressing a memorial meeting on Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the city's Laldigi Maidan.

Criticising the remarks of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia over the next election, Nasim said the BNP chief is trying to blackmail the people by hatching conspiracy fearing her defeat in next polls.

He said young people and women are the main strength of Awami League.

Nasim urged the people to remain united to vote for the party again in the next general election to strengthen the hands of Sheikh Hasina for development and progress of the country.

The health minister also called upon people of all walks of life to remain in streets on February 8 so that BNP and anti-liberation forces cannot create anarchy on the day of announcement of verdict in Zia Orphanage Graft case.

Nasim said the intrigues are still on against the development and advancement being carried out by Bangabandhu daughter Sheikh Hasina.

He made a clarion call for forging united resistance against evil forces in the next general polls.

Nasim paid rich tributes to former three-time elected Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation and President of city AL ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury for his outstanding contributions to development and welfare of Chittagong.

Speaking on the occasion as special guest Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said the late Mayor turned himself into a politician from the grass-root level and he could not compromise against the interests of Chittagong.

It was Mohiuddin Chowdhury from Chittagong who raised his voice against tragic assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members in 1975, the health minister added.

"We have many things to learn from the prolonged political legacy of Mohiuddin Chowdhury that he left for the rank and file of AL", Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon said.

"Chowdhury did a lot for social, cultural, organisational and educational fields in Chittagong during his long political carrier," Menon added.

Organised by 14-party alliance in Chittagong, the meeting was presided over by acting president of Chittagong city AL Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury.

The memorial meeting was addressed, among others, by Tarikat Federation Chairman Sayed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhanderi, MP, Jatiya Samaj Tantrik Dal General Secretary Nazmul Hoque Prodhan, MP, central JSD leader Professor Dr Anwar Hossain, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua, AL Organising Secretary A K M Enamul Hoque Shamim, late Mohiuddin's eldest son and Organising Secretary of Bangladesh AL Mohiubul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, Deputy Press and Publication Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Deputy Office Secretary Barrister Biplop Barua, Gono Azadi League President Advocate SK Sikdar, Gonotontri Party General Secretary Dr Shahdat Hossain and NAP leader Ismail Hossain.