DHAKA:  Awami League acting General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif Sunday clearly stated that they want to go ahead pursuing the ideology of Baksal, the system introduced by the post-independence AL government through the fourth amendment to the constitution.

"We conceive the ideology, thoughts and spirit of Baksal and we want to take the country forward under a platform of all parties," said the ruling-party leader.    

He made the significant disclosure at a press briefing at his office-amid a number of major developments on the country’s political front.

Besides placing logic in defence of Baksal, he said Bangabandhu’s decision in 1974 was fair. "He wanted to decentralize the administration so he made district governors," said Hanif.  

He indirectly blamed ex-PM Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman for the anarchy created during the four-party alliance government.

“According to the detective branch report, `Hawa Bhaban’ was involved directly with the August 21 grenade attack, 10-truck arms import and countywide serial bombings,” he told the journalists at the press conference.

Replying to the statement of BNP Secretary-General Khandaker Delwar Hossain that ‘Awami League scared of Tarique Zia’, Hanif said Delwar wasn’t wrong totally. "Tarique Rahman is really a dangerous person for people to fear," he said.  

“It is natural that people should fear such kingpin of cruel killings," said the Awami League leader.
Hanif also had a retort to Delwar’s demand for early election. “They had better test their popularity before demanding election,” he said.

Citing the public opinion poll conducted by an English-language daily he said, 41 percent respondents support Awami League and only 20 percent BNP.

Pointing his finger at BNP’s senior leaders, Hanif asked them not to try to save “the corrupt and assailants, including Tarique and Koko, by creating public sufferings”.  

Organizing Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, BM Mozammel Haque, Information and Research Secretary Afzal Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Faridur Nahar Lily and Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das were among others present at the press meet.

BDST: 1940 HRS, SEPT 5, 2010