Claiming that Awami League is the people's party, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always works to serve the people of the country.
The minister said this while briefing reporters after visiting the Polo Ground in Chattogram city, on the eve of the public rally to be organized by Awami League’s Chattogram city and Chattogram district north and south units on Sunday.
"Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has taken Bangladesh to new heights in the last fourteen years," he said.
Replying to a question, he said, "Since we have come to power with the people's mandate, it is our duty to appear before the people. Where the country was before and where it has reached now, what we have done for the people, where we want to take the country - it is our responsibility as a people's party to present these before the people. Leader of the people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will present these things to the people through the public rally on Sunday."
He said Chattogram's Polo Ground is a very big field. The father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina both held public meetings that witnessed huge gatherings at the venue, spilling over and forcing people to stand outside the field.
"As we can see the huge response, this time eight-ten times more people will have to stand outside the field," Hasan Mahmud added.
He then turned his attention to the BNP.
"Bangladesh is rapidly advancing to development. And BNP is the main patron of the anti-independence militant group. So the country cannot be handed over to the patron of terrorists. We will also present it in front of the people," he said, letting some insight into AL's strategy ahead of the next elections.
The Information Minister said, the government has given BNP permission to hold the December 10 rally at Suhrawardy Udyan based on their application.
“But, instead of Suhrawardy Udyan, they want to hold the rally at Nayapaltan, to create anarchy and destabilize the country,” he added.
Hasan Mahmud said that the government will not allow the “BNP-Jamat nexus to create any situation to destabilize the country.”
Chittagong South District Awami League President Moslem Uddin Ahmad MP, General Secretary Mofizur Rahman, Metropolitan Awami League Acting President Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury, General Secretary AJM Nashir Uddin, North District President MA Salam, General Secretary Sheikh Ataur Rahman, Chittagong Zilla Parishad Chairman Awami League leaders including ATM Peyarul Islam were also present on the occasion.