Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said the extreme communal forces committed the unpardonable offence of vandalizing Bangabandhu’s sculpture under the patronization of the BNP.
“BNP in one hand patronizes anti-Liberation and extreme communal forces, and on the other hand, it always talks about democracy. Extremism had mounted up in the country under the patronization of the BNP,” he said.
Quader was addressing a coronavirus protective equipment distribution ceremony arranged by Awami League’s relief and social welfare sub-committee at the party president’s Dhanmondi political office. He joined it virtually from his official residence on parliament premises.
About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s allegation that extremism rises due to lack of democratic practices, Quader questioned who created the militants — ‘Bangla Bhai’ and ‘Shaykh Abdur Rahman’ — when the country-wide series bombings took place and when coordinated bomb attacks were launched on four cinemas halls — Alka, Chayabani, Purobi and Ajanta — in Mymensingh.
“BNP always talks about democracy. They claimed democracy existed during their government’s term. Then how did the extremism mount up?” he questioned.
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Quader said BNP created extremism and supported and nurtured militants to stay in power and wipe out the spirit of Liberation War from the country.
About Mirza Fakhrul’s remarks that the Awami League government will have to face trial for violating human rights, the Quader said the talks of human rights do not suit BNP, rather it sounds like “the devil listening to scriptures”.
Turning to the Awami League’s nomination process in the upcoming local government elections, he urged the party men to refrain from sending the names of those who violated the party’s decision in previous elections.
He said if any Awami League lawmaker, minister or central leader is found to be involved in backing the rebel candidates of previous elections, the party will take tough action against them.
Calling upon all to abide by the health guidelines and wear facemasks mandatorily, the minister said the outbreak of Covid-19 has changed the normal way of life.
Mentioning that the coronavirus positive cases and number of deaths are rising in Bangladesh, he urged all to remain alert about the possible second wave of Covid-19.
Awami League Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and Education and Human Resources Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa were present, among others, at the Dhanmondi office.
