Most AL leaders were against dummy election

Staff Correspondent: 30 percent of Awami League’s worker-supporters dropped after the polls due to keeping the 12th National Assembly elections open and working for dummy candidates. For that reason, the newly deposed party did not receive much response despite calling for anti-discrimination student movement in July. After the elections, 30 percent of Awami League workers-supporters left the party out of shame, multiple sources said.
It is known that the anti-discrimination student movement started from July 1 to demand the cancellation of the quota system. Students of various universities including Dhaka University continued the movement normally till July 15. Then they gathered at Dhaka University, Shahbagh, Farmgate and other places and protested. Then on July 16, Awami League’s fraternal organization Chhatra League gave a counter program to suppress the students’ movement. Students and Chhatra League started counter-programme in Shahbagh and Dhaka University. The movement of students became stronger when the Chhatra League took to the field.

On the other hand, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader announced to suppress the movement with strict hands. He ordered all affiliated organizations including Chhatra League to enter the field. On his orders, the Chhatra League called for resistance. But in the end, they had to leave Dhaka University after losing to the students. The students took control of the halls. After failing to resist the movement, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and flee to India on August 5. The ministers and MPs of the Awami League government went into hiding. Many have been arrested. Moreover, party leaders and high-level bureaucrats close to the government have also covered up.
According to intelligence sources, the general secretary of the party, Obaidul Quader, called upon the activists to prevent the anti-quota movement in July. Despite repeated calls from the party, Awami League did not receive much response from the leaders and activists. An intelligence agency has been tasked to find out the reasons behind the party’s non-response. After nearly 10 days of investigation, they handed over a report to party chief Sheikh Hasina on August 3. There, the activists and supporters are mentioned to remain silent.
According to several intelligence sources, the election was open even though there was a boat symbol in the 12th National Parliament election. Apart from the boat candidate, other candidates of Awami League were also elected there. The government also worked in favor of independent candidates in making those elections appear participatory. Where there were strong independent candidates, individual candidates were given more weight than party candidates. Many leaders of those constituencies were instructed by the party to secretly work for independent or dummy candidates. Because of that, the local activists were divided into two groups. After the dummy election, many activists left Awami League, that is about 30 percent.
It is also known that local leaders, activists and supporters fell into trouble as independent and boat candidates stood against each other. In many places, the boat candidate lost the election, there Awami League leaders and activists were cornered. Many were forced to leave Awami League due to the influence of independent candidates. Those seats were like opposition parties for Awami League leaders and activists. Attack-case swords also came down on many. That’s why he left the party in anger. But they did not join any other group. During the student movement, these activists played the role of silent spectators. Did not follow the instructions of the party high command.
Many people think that the ousted Awami League failed to prevent the July movement due to dummy elections. They say, dummy candidates have eaten Awami League.
According to party sources, General Secretary Obaidul Quader held a meeting with leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South Awami League and top leaders of allied and fraternal organizations at the Awami League office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on July 23. There, he expressed his anger that the leaders and activists of Awami League, affiliates and affiliated organizations could not stand anywhere against the violence surrounding the quota movement. Quoting the party’s high command, he said that it was an organizational failure not to field activists during violence. In that meeting, the central leaders demanded to make a list of the leaders and activists who were not seen in the field due to anarchy.
Several leaders present in the meeting said that Obaidul Quader said in the meeting that the failure of the Central Chhatra League was revealed in the quota movement. Despite having thousands of leaders and activists of BCL, it could not stand up, it is an organizational weakness. He also expressed his displeasure over the lack of committees of various units of the Chhatra League. Apart from this, the general secretary of Awami League urged all affiliated and fraternal organizations to resolve their anger through coordination meetings of their respective organizations and remain united. In the meeting, he said, grouping politics is going on towards Uttara, grouping politics is going on towards Jatrabari, due to which no one could stand there. Grouping politics should be stopped. The position of Awami League leaders and workers should be confirmed in each ward. The conflict within the party should be resolved.
According to intelligence sources, dummy candidates for 40 to 50 seats in the 12th National Assembly elections were against Awami League. They control the area with their own people, work against party leaders and activists. While making the election participatory, the grassroots Awami League was divided into several groups. As a result, except for a handful of individual MPs and the losing candidates of Awami League, none were in the field during the agitation.
It is known that Awami League candidates have won 224 seats out of 298 seats in the 12th National Parliament election. Independent candidates have won 62 seats. And Jatiya Party won in 11 seats. A candidate has seen the face of victory from another party.
In this election, several ministers’ foreheads were also burned. Apart from this, many familiar faces could not lift the sail of the boat. They had to lose to independent candidates of their own party. Moreover, Awami League leaders were cornered in the seats where independent candidates won in the elections. Among them Syed Sayedul Haque in Habiganj-4 seat, Muhammad Saiful Islam in Dhaka-19 seat, Md. in Dhaka-18 seat. Khosru Chowdhury, Moshiur Rahman Molla Sajal in Dhaka-5 seat, Md. in Comilla-2 seat. Abdul Majid, Jahangir Alam in Comilla-3 seat, Md. in Comilla-4 seat. Abul Kalam Azad, MA Jaher in Comilla-5 seat, Abdul Quader Azad in Faridpur-3 seat, Mohammad Faisal in Munshiganj-3 seat, Mohammad Hushamuddin Chowdhury in Sylhet-5 seat and other independents cornered Awami League leaders and activists. There many worked against Awami League candidates.
According to party sources, party general secretary Obaidul Quader has repeatedly given strict warnings to suppress the anti-quota movement. He also wanted to bring the leaders and activists to the field citing the party high command. He personally called several influential Trinamool leaders, ultimately failing to mobilize the activists. He also gave instructions over the phone, and also called someone to the party president’s office in Dhanmondi. Comilla A. K. M. Bahauddin Bahar was among them. Sources said he was instructed to prevent the agitation of Comilla University students.
Sources also said that Habib Ahsan, the former member of parliament of Dhaka-18 Constituency, was ordered by Obaidul Quader to forget anger and insult and come to the field. Apart from this, Obaidul Quader called former mayor of Gazipur City Corporation Jahangir Alam to Dhaka.