'Stop Cheap Politics After Winning Votes with Talk of Heaven': State Minister Mir Shahe Alam to Opposition

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has called on the opposition to stop doing cheap politics after winning votes at election time with talk of promises of heaven. He also questioned the absence, at the inauguration of the July memorial, of those who regularly speak about the July-August movement.

The state minister made the remarks at a press briefing held at the Shibganj Upazila Parishad in Bogura at 10 am on Friday (23 October).

Mir Shahe Alam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the July Memorial, built at the government's initiative at Osmani Udyan in the capital, on 19 October, and that he was present at the event as chief guest. On the occasion, the Dhaka South City Corporation had invited the presidents and general secretaries of various like-minded, allied and coalition political parties.

According to the state minister, alongside sending invitation letters to the political leaders concerned, Dhaka South City Corporation administrator and valiant freedom fighter Abdus Salam also took the initiative to confirm their attendance by telephone.

He added that members of four martyrs' families, including the fathers of martyrs Mir Mugdho, Abu Sayeed and Anas, were present at the inauguration. The Prime Minister inaugurated the memorial together with them. At the same event, Osmani Udyan was also inaugurated after a long ten years.

Mir Shahe Alam claimed that many of the political party leaders who regularly speak about the events of July-August did not attend the event. According to him, the names of 834 gazetted martyrs are preserved at this memorial of the country.

Referring to remarks by the Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, the state minister said the explanation given for not joining the event — that the opposition leader's name was not on the invitation card — is not acceptable.

He said the names of veteran politician Mahmudur Rahman Manna, national leader Saiful Haque, and BNP Standing Committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed were also not on the invitation card. Even so, the Prime Minister called them onto the stage.

According to the state minister, had the opposition leaders accepted the invitation and come to the event, the Prime Minister would have invited their representatives onto the stage as well.

Addressing the opposition parties, Mir Shahe Alam said that after winning votes at election time by talking of heaven, they should now stop cheap politics. He urged them to come to parliament and take part in discussions instead of programmes of agitation or long marches.

He added that the parliament session is scheduled to begin on 9 November. Five membership seats have been kept vacant for opposition representatives on the constitution amendment committee. Urging the opposition to quickly provide the names of five representatives, he said they need to come to parliament and play a responsible role.

After the press briefing, the state minister attended, as chief guest, a prize distribution ceremony for talented teachers and students at the Shibganj Upazila Parishad auditorium.