Not 21,000, rather 11,000 BNP men in jail: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said 11,000 BNP activists are in jail, instead of the 21,000 claimed by the opposition.

"They [BNP] say that 21,000 of their activists are in jail. I am challenging you, I have learned that there are 11,000 [BNP activists] in jail. Of them, 2,000 have been released on bail today. The number 21,000 is 'fake'. They have lied about it," said Quader while speaking at a victory procession of AL.

Quader also claimed that 70 percent people of the country are ready to vote for "boat".

"The final will be played on January 7. On that day, 1,896 people (total number of candidates) will play. BNP left the game on the 28th (October 28) after receiving a red card," he said.

"Twenty seven political parties are contesting, so the polls will be competitive. Those who say the election will not be competitive, are liars," he added.

The "victory procession" was held with hundreds of leaders and activists of AL and its associate bodies.

Even though the programme was scheduled to start at 2:30pm at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh in the capital, the Awami League leaders and activists began to throng the venue around 1:30pm.

Streets in front of IEB, Matsya Bhaban, and the one leading to Shahbagh intersection were brimming with them, which caused vehicular movements on those roads to come to a halt, with commuters having to wait long hours stuck in their vehicles.

As the procession advanced through Mirpur Road towards Dhanmondi-32's Bangabandhu Bhaban, traffic congestion extended to adjacent roads.

The procession started from Suhrawardy Udyan around 3:45pm and ended at Dhanmondi 32 at 5:30pm.

Before the procession, a brief rally was held at the IEB premises, where several AL candidates of Dhaka constituencies spoke.