Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has issued a warning against the rebel candidates of the Awami League who are contesting the union parishad (UP) polls, saying tough actions would be taken against them.
“A list of the Awami League leaders and lawmakers who supported and helped the rebels is being prepared as well,” said the minister, also a presidium member of the ruling party. “Strict actions will be taken against those who are rebelling against the party, or who are instigating such actions. The rebels will lose any chance of getting party nomination for future elections.”
The minister issued the warning during a visit to a mobile court of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) working on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Fatullah, Narayanganj yesterday afternoon.
He said the first phase of the UP polls, which was held on Tuesday, March 22, went smoothly with sporadic events of violence. He said the government would monitor the polls more carefully in the future to prevent such violence acts.
Referring to the BNP and its recently held national council, Quader said: “The BNP is a weak party. It has been five days since its national council was held, yet they have not been able to form a full committee. They are still waiting for directions from London to elect their secretary general.”
Earlier, while observing the mobile court’s proceedings, he directed traffic police to take appropriate action against drivers and transports which did not have legal documents or were carrying passengers beyond capacity.
The minister was accompanied by BRTA Dhaka Divisional Deputy Director Masud Rahman, Deputy Director (Enforcement) Tapan Kumar Sarkar and Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Dr Khandakar Mahid Uddin during the visit, among others.