Scores of BNP leaders are eagerly waiting to join Awami League, said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

“Masses of BNP leaders will pour in and start their journey with AL, only if Sheikh Hasina gives the green signal,” he told the media on Wednesday (Nov21).

He commented that the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will not be able to do anything to stop this.

Horse trading is a regular part of the elections, Quader said, adding that the politics of leaders going over to opposing parties is very common in democratic countries.

“It’s nothing new and is already happening. Look at Dr Kamal Hossain, Sultan Mansoor Mahmudur Rahman Manna; they were all part of AL but have now gone over the other side.”

“We have not yet finalized the distribution of constituencies but have had verbal discussions with Jatiya Party and the 14-party Alliance,” Quader said when asked whether the nominations for AL and its allies have been finalised yet.

He added that the nomination process is still ongoing and the official list of candidates are not ready.

Regarding BNP’s complaint to the Election Commission, the senior politician said that complaining and whining is an old habit of the opposition party and they will keep doing saw unless they are given full guarantee of winning the polls.