Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said his party is not a captive of any force rather the people of this country are the key strength of the Awami League.
“Bangladesh can seek Indian support for resolving the unsettled issue of the Teesta River water sharing as it is a national interest. The country did not get any benefit by keeping the dispute unsettled for 21 years rather it faced loss,” he said while attending an event at the party’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office.
All unsettled issues with India should be resolved through talks with the neighboring country, he mentioned.
"People are the source of strength of Awami League. It does not have to be a captive of any other force," said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.
"Awami League has many friends abroad but it doesn't have any lord. On the other hand, BNP has many foreign lords. BNP always makes complaints to its foreign lords," he added.
The event was organized to distribute Eid gifts among distressed people on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The AL Sub-committee on Relief and Social Welfare arranged the program on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
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Quader said the AL stands by people in every crisis or disaster ahead of any other political party.
Noting that AL never gets frustrated, he said everyone in the party is working under the dynamic and prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
On the occasion of the historic May Day, Quader extended greetings to all working-class people saying that May Day is the day of unity.
Terming AL an organization of this soil and people, he said since its inception, the party always stayed beside people, and thus it gained people's confidence.
Even when AL was in opposition, the party stood by people in their weal and woe ahead of other parties, he mentioned.
AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury chaired the function while Central Working Committee Member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Agriculture and Cooperatives Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana were present, among others.
Later, Quader distributed the Eid gifts among distressed and destitute people through different social and political organizations.