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Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said new cabinet members will take oath before January 10, the Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The road transport and bridges minister gave the information at a post-election view-exchange meeting with journalists at the party president’s Dhanmondi political office in Dhaka on Tuesday, reports UNB.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Tuesday said that the newly elected members of parliament (MPs) will take oath on Thursday (January 3).
Information minister was addressing a discussion organised by Secretariat Reporters Forum at the Secretariat Media Centre on Tuesday.
Asked what would be the major challenges for Awami League-led grand alliance government, Obaidul Quader said: “Now implementation of our promises made in electoral manifesto will be the big challenges for us.”
“In the new year, we pledge to get rid of our flaws and mistakes,” Quader added.
The AL general secretary urged the leaders and workers to keep patience and work for the welfare of the people and the country.
Quader asked the party leaders and workers to remain alert so that none can do any revengeful acts on rivals.
About the election, the AL general secretary said the parliamentary election witnessed the reflection of mass-upsurge for Awami League’s election symbol ‘boat’ across the country.
“Such mass-upsurge throughout the country was never seen after the 1970 general election. The polls result reflected the mass-upsurges like those in the 1954 and 1970 general elections,” he said.
Asked whether the Jatiya Party will be in opposition, Quader said Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will consider the matter while forming the government.
Decision on this matter will be taken after discussing with Jatiya Party, he said.
Turning on BNP’s massive defeat, Quader said: “I got astonished that there is no organisational structure of a big party like BNP. Their organisational weakness is reflected through the election.”
He said heavyweight candidates of BNP could not give polling agents, so they got the poor results in the election.
The AL general secretary said BNP candidates did not put posters or banners anywhere as they admitted defeat before their defeat in the election.
"Actually, BNP had no preparation to take part in the election that is why they fall prey to massive defeat," he said.
Quader said BNP suffered the massive defeat due to mistakes of their own leaders and workers.
"Involving in ‘nomination business’, not giving polling agents and not conducting election campaigns are the major reasons behind their defeat," he said.
He said BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront staged different dramas to make the election questionable.
Quader also announced the programme for Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.
He said the party leaders and workers will pay homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of the Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi at 7 am on January 10 marking the day.
A discussion will be held at 3pm on that day at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium at Farmgate in Dhaka.