Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader raised questions about BNP’s source of money to hire lobbyists to influence US administration.
“Where does the BNP get so much money from?” Quader asked while addressing a function marking the 10th anniversary of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College in Dhanmondi in Dhaka on Friday, reports BSS.
He said a few BNP leaders went to the United Nations to lodge complaints against the government after the party failed to wage any kind of movement.
The minister said the BNP has signed treaties with two institutions of Washington for lobbying in exchange of $20,000 initially and $35,000 every month to put pressure on the Bangladesh government.
“Some people can put pressure on us. But we will not bow down to anyone else’s pressure,” he said.
Quader said: “I want to say it clearly that we have very strong people’s support. Our root in Bangladesh’s soil is very deep.”
He said if the country has any problem, its people will solve it.
Also Read- BNP leaders ‘unaware’ of party hiring firms to lobby Trump
Abdul Sattar of the BNP has hired Blue Star Strategies and Rasky Partners to lobby the Trump administration on its behalf ahead of parliamentary election in Bangladesh, a Politico report said.
The contract with Blue Star is worth $20,000 a month in August and $35,000 a month for the rest of the year.
Rasky Partners is working as a subcontractor to Blue Star and will receive payments worth $10,000 a month in August and $15,000 a month for the rest of the year.
Recently, the trial court had indicted Khaleda on two corruption charges brought against her by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in jail in the case centering the embezzlement of about $250,000 funds in foreign donations meant for an orphanage trust. Her son has also been sent to 10 years jail along with four others in connection with the case. According to PTI, a huge amount of money was misappropriated while Khaleda served as prime minister during the period 2001-2006.
The Prime Minister’s Orphanage Fund, which was solely administered by Khaleda Zia, had received a $1.25 million grant from United Saudi Commercial Bank in June 1991.
She had deposited Tk2.33 crore (around $250,000) to Zia Orphanage Trust and appointed her son as the trust’s “settler”.
