AL supporters with clean record welcome to join BNP: Khasru

Awami League supporters with a clean background and no involvement in repression against BNP can join BNP, the party's Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said today (17 May).

"Those directly involved with the AL will not be accepted into our party. However, their [AL] supporters who did not obstruct BNP's activities, did not participate in the repression of our activists, and even cooperated with us secretly during the last 15 years may be considered," he said while inaugurating BNP's membership renewal programme as the chief guest, reports BSS.

The Chattogram Divisional unit of BNP launched the programme at the city unit party office at Nasiman Bhavan in the port city. 

He further emphasised that anyone wishing to join the BNP must do so openly. "There is no scope for secretly joining BNP politics."

Calling upon party leaders to comply with the guidelines while recruiting or renewing fresh membership, the BNP leader said socially unacceptable, extortionist, terrorist and corrupt people in no way will be allowed to get party membership.

"You all [party leaders] should be aware of the party guidelines while renewing or recruiting fresh people in the party. Otherwise, image and popular support of the party would be tarnished," he said.

"Keep them aloof and stay away from those who would be harmful for the party's image and reputation as well as lessen our popular support among the people," he told the party leaders and activists. 

He urged the party leaders and activists to involve and unite the majority segments of the population within the party's fold, as BNP is the biggest political party of the country. 

"We should take responsibility and work together to materialise the dream of the people. Young generation wants a democratic Bangladesh where everybody could take part in governing the country and an economic system where every citizen could get and enjoy their due share," Khasru said.

Referring to the past BNP regime of 1991-1996 and 2001 to 2007, the former commerce minister of the then BNP government said that the country's export and employment had increased remarkably when the BNP was in state power.

He called upon the party leaders and activists to disseminate the past success stories of the BNP governments among the general masses, especially the young generation.

Addressing the function as special guest, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said that those who want to compete with BNP in the future will not be able to do so as BNP is an experienced and popular political party in the country. 

"Any conspiracy cannot stop BNP's marching forward towards the ultimate victory," he added.

Presided over by Ctg Divisional Organizing Secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim and moderated by Divisional Assistant Organizing Secretary Barrister Mir Helal Uddin, the function was also addressed, among others, by City Unit President Alhaj Ershad Ullah and General Secretary Nazimur Rahman.