Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP has taken a stance against the countrymen by enforcing destructive blockade programme.

"BNP is enforcing siege blockade programme that even has no support from its own activists", he said while replying to a query of reporters at his office at the secretariat.

Earlier, the minister exchanged views with the newly elected committee members of Bangladesh Chalachitra Pradarshak Samity.

Dr Hasan said the countrymen rejected the programme of BNP as the civic life reamins normal completely. The common people are doing their jobs as usual, he said, adding that by giving such programme BNP leaders are mocking with themselves shamelessly.

About dropping of many incumbent parliament members from next poll the minister said every time some candidates are dropped which is very usual.
Only the popular and uncontroversial candidates owed the ticket this year, he said.

AL President Sheikh Hasina has conducted survey in different ways for about two years to assess the popularity of the candidates, he said.

About the independent candidate issue, Hasan Mahmud said the lawmakers who were elected unopposed in 2014 poll had to pay penalty. Keeping this in mind, he said, AL president asked all not to discourage even small parties to vie in the election independently, he said.

He said more than 30 political parties have already declared to take part in the next poll while many BNP leaders are taking part in the election from Trinamul BNP or other platforms. In fact, people’s participation is most important in an election rather than participation of a political party, he said.

The minister said, It was already announced that the 14-party alliance will take part in the poll jointly as before we had taken part from the alliance in 2008.

Like past, he said, the AL has announced nomination in 298 seats which would be adjusted with the partners of the alliance later.

About a statement of the Human Rights Watch, Dr Hasan said the organization sells statements in different times. There are some statement givers at home and abroad, he said, adding they have lost their credibility as they didn’t make any statement against the arsonists.

He said Amnesty International made statement in favour of war criminals. But they remain silent when Israeli forces are kill Palestinians like birds, said Dr Hasan.

Samity chief advisor Sudipto Kumar Das, vice president Amir Hamza, joint secretaries Faruque Ahmed and Samina Islam Nila, law affairs secretary Abdul Matin Pradhan, members Md Isha Khan, Md Billal Hossain, Md Chand Mia, Mirza Abdul Khalek and Dr Atiqur Rahman, among others, were present.