Claiming Awami League as the largest party of the country, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said that the move to form national unity without AL is funny.

Talking to the journalists after a meeting with AL leaders of Rajshahi city and district unit at party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue, Obaidul also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks, reports the UNB.

‘There exist a large number of supporters of AL and AL-led alliance in the country, without AL there are 14 other parties. Forming a national unity without these parties will be a communal polarization’, he said.

‘In the name of national unity a communal polarization is taking place in the country. Is it possible to form a national unity without AL? The words- ‘National Unity’ should not be used’, he said.

‘Competition is a matter of democracy, election means competition, we welcome these. We are not going for any polls sans competition. Unity can be made following the national election’, he said.

Referring the Wednesday’s comments of Finance Minister AMA Muhith about schedule of upcoming polls, Obaidul said ‘It is only authority of Prime Minister to decide when the poll-time government will be formed, what will be its shape, what will be the size of the cabinet. Without Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, nobody knows about it. As a general secretary of the party even I don’t know.’ 

Over the date of upcoming general election, the minister said ‘Though it is quite sure that December 27 is the possible date of national polls but it’s the responsibility of Election Commission (EC) to declare that. It’s not our duty to irritate the EC.’ 

‘EC will announce when the election will be held. It is not the duty of the government, any minister or any party leaders to say it. So it will be good for government, democracy and the country, if we maintain our responsibility within our own small domains’, he said.

Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, AL organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, office secretary Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap and other leaders of Rajshati city and district units were present in the meeting.