Imposition of sanction won’t yield any outcome, he says
Criticizes the US policy over Bangladesh
No scope for restoring caretaker government system
Challenging those who seek to obstruct elections, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Friday that Bangladesh will adhere to its constitution and conduct a free and fair election in accordance with it.
He emphasized that the next general elections would align with the country’s constitution and that there is no room for reinstating the outdated caretaker government system.
Quader, who also serves as the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said: “The BNP’s 48-hour ultimatum has expired, so there will be a game once our captain, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, returns home.”
The Awami League leader reiterated that imposing sanctions and issuing visa policies on Bangladesh would yield no results.
“No results will come from threatening us or imposing sanctions or visa policies,” he said during a discussion at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
The ruling Awami League organized the discussion to mark the 77th birthday of the party’s President and Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Quader said that Bangladesh would not have gained its independence in 1971 if its people had feared sanctions.
“If we continue to fear sanctions today, we cannot sustain Bangladesh’s progress. The next elections will be held under the Sheikh Hasina government, and there will be no compromise,” he said.
The Awami League general secretary also said he found it intriguing that Washington imposed sanctions while BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attempted to intimidate the government.
He added: “It’s strange. We will hold our elections… who are you to say otherwise?”
Criticizing the US policy towards Bangladesh, he argued that US President Joe Biden could not manage Donald Trump but attempted to intimidate Bangladesh.
Quader mentioned that six lives were lost on Washington Hill on January 6 and questioned the type of democracy this represents. He pointed out that human rights violations occur daily in the United States and asked: “So why threaten us? Fakhrul has been hired as a broker again (by the US).”
Using the example of the Fakhruddin-Moinuddin period, Quader argued that if the caretaker government system were reinstated, it would create an unusual Government in Bangladesh, which is not desirable.
He said that there is no public support for the BNP’s movement because all its points are fabricated.
He added: “The BNP’s 48-hour ultimatum has expired, so what will Fakhrul do now?”
Asserting that the next election will be free and fair, he warned: “If there is any sabotage during the election, there will be consequences.”
Quader also highlighted the transformed landscape of Bangladesh over the last 15 years.
Chaired by Awami League Presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, the meeting featured speeches from other Awami League Presidium members, including Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Colonel (retired) Faruk Khan, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Qamrul Islam, Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, and Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram. Additionally, Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, as well as Awami League Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Dr Dipu Moni.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.