Action if relatives of ministers, MPs don't quit race

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said necessary actions will be taken if the relatives of ruling party lawmakers and ministers participate in the upazila polls, ignoring the party decision, reports BSS.

"Ministers and MPs will face the music if their relatives participate in the upcoming upazila election ignoring the party decision," he told a press briefing at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office in the city.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said there are scopes for the candidates to withdraw their candidacy till the last day before holding the election and that is why it is possible for them to withdraw their candidacy even after the Election Commission's official date of withdrawing candidature.

"So, the party will wait till the last date. If anyone violates the party decision, organisational action will be taken against his or her in time," he said.

About the disciplinary action of the party, the AL general secretary said: "There is the issue of taking disciplinary action in our party and the AL enforced it at different times in the past considering the activities of the party men."

But, he said, the AL will take a decision in time if the relatives of the ministers and lawmakers do not finally withdraw their candidacy.

Responding to a query whether the candidates who would take part in the polls will face actions from the party, Quader said general mercy is a strategy of the AL in particular situations, but it totally depends on the AL president.

Talking about the AL's rallies announced to be held on same day of BNP's programmes, he said the AL in fact holds rallies to protect the lives and properties of the country's people from the terrorist acts of the BNP.

AL joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretaries BM Mozammel Huque, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Shawpan and Sujit Roy Nandi, cultural affairs secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, relief and social welfare secretary Aminul Islam Amin and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were, among others, present at the press briefing.