Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has raised questions about the opposition BNP’s claim that 80% of its leaders and activists have been persecuted, asking the party to list them up and make it public.
"I would ask him (BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir) to refrain from making such false claims. Who are included in these 80% of leaders and workers? Amir Khasru and Mirza Fakhrul are out of jail. Then who is being persecuted? They need to make their list public," Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister, said at an event of his party on Friday.
Criticizing BNP leaders for their false claims, Quader said: "The people of the country have rejected your negative politics. This kind of politics will become irrelevant. No one will accept it. The BNP as a party will shrink."
Referring to differences in activities of the two parties during Ramadan, he said: "The BNP holds iftar parties, while the Awami League distributes food for iftar to people following our leader's directive."
In response to the BNP’s allegations, he said: "The Awami League does not serve any foreign state. Bangladesh is in our hearts, our consciousness."
"They (BNP) have forgotten that Bangladesh is an independent country. They were dependent on foreign powers before the election… they conspired to foil the polls. When the election was over, the government took power. Under the efficient leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the country is going towards good by overcoming crises, it takes time for good times to come.
“There are crises all over the world, and their effects are also felt in our country. Yet, the people of Bangladesh are doing well because of the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We are much better off under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina compared to how the people of many countries are suffering.”