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Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh to hold talks about implementing his own country’s agenda.
“Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh. We don’t care about their visa policy or anything else. He is not even a minister. We didn’t invite him; rather, he has come to this country because of their different needs. If bilateral relations exist, such visits happen,” he said.
Quader made the comments in a press conference at the Road Transport and Highways Division conference room at the secretariat in Dhaka.
Asked about BNP’s call for strengthening their movement to boycott Indian products during their meeting with allies, the AL general secretary said this is their failed attempt as no BNP leader will boycott Indian products.
“I think BNP’s call for boycotting Indian products is an absurd thought. Actually, BNP got perplexed after losing everything. As they have no issue now, they are making Indian products boycott their issue. But it is not an issue in Bangladesh,” he said.
Quader said the movement of BNP and its allies has no public involvement as their recent two rallies in Dhaka also flopped.
Workers of BNP became frustrated as they lost confidence in their leaders, he said.
About imposing 15 per cent value added tax (VAT) on metro-rail fare, the minister said it is not realistic as there is no such instance of imposing 15pc VAT on metro-rail fare in any other country in the world.
Noting that there is an instance of imposing 5pc VAT in a neighbouring country, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will consider whether there is any logical basis for it in Bangladesh.
About the plying of unfit vehicles in the capital city, Quader said unfit vehicles will be dumped. But considering the issue of people’s hassle, those vehicles with the minimum fitness to ply will not be dumped now, he mentioned.
“We are considering adding electric buses to public transport,” he said.