Politically-disabled BNP now depending on sticks, says Obaidul Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that BNP will be given a befitting reply if they take to the streets with sticks hanging the national flag.

“None will be allowed to play with sticks and fire,” he said at a discussion, marking AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 76th birthday at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city, reports BSS.

AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over the discussion.

Quoting Zafrullah Chowdhury's remarks about BNP’s stick-dependant politics, Quader said, “Politically-disabled BNP is now depending on sticks. I am not saying this rather Zafrullah Chowdhury made the comment.”

Noting that the stick had gone from politics, but BNP has brought back it, the AL general secretary said, “Hanging the national flag with sticks, BNP is threatening that the sticks would be much longer. What audacity they are showing? We will reply to that”.

Noting that the streets have not been given lease to anyone, Quader said, “AL is on the streets. The streets are not anyone's ancestral property. We will take to the streets for the people and for our development. Will you occupy the streets? We are waiting to see you.”

Anticipating that the ruling AL will win the next parliament election again, he said, “Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, we are once again nearer to victory”.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has become digital following her (Sheikh Hasina) Digital Bangladesh Vision, the AL general secretary said now the vision is to transform the country into ‘Smart Bangladesh’.

“Since BNP knows that they could not defeat Sheikh Hasina through polls, he said, they choose the way of conspiracy.”

Noting that Sheikh Hasina returned to the country being elected as the AL president after six years of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's killing, Quader said returning to the country, makes democracy free.

“It has been possible to hold trials of war criminals and Bangabandhu murder as she returned to the country and subsequently the process of development had started in the country,” he added.