Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the BNP's Dhaka rally has failed and the party has been 'half-defeated' through it.

He said this at a public meeting of Dhaka District Awami League (AL) at Savar’s Radio Colony School and College Ground on Saturday.

“BNP wanted to hold their rally at Naya Paltan. They’ve been half-defeated by not being able to do so. They took preparations for hosting a picnic in the name of rally long before getting permission from police. This was proved after police found sacks of rice, lentils and cooking pots inside their Nayapaltan office,” Quader said.

Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling AL, blamed BNP for Wednesday’s clash in his speech.

Read: BNP rally: Passengers suffer as movement of vehicles, launches remain suspended

“It was the BNP activists who attacked the police first. Will police sit idle when they are attacked? We know who are financing BNP to create this type of violence. We’ll take necessary steps against them when the time comes,” Quader added.

Quader further said that the decision of seven BNP members of parliament (MP) to resign from their posts will prove to be a big mistake.

“Don’t think that the parliament will become ineffective because of these resignations. Besides, now we know the lobbyist who had persuaded the United States to put sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion. His name is Toby Cadman. The secret has been revealed. BNP will have to pay the price for these mistakes,” Quader said.

Read: BNP urges start of ‘simultaneous anti-govt movement’ on Dec 24

DUring the war crimes trial, senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders accused, convicted and later executed for war crimes and crimes against humanity in 1971 engaged Toby Cadman as a London-based legal advisor.

The meeting in Savar was presided over by Hasina Doula, President of Savar Upazila Awami League. Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman, AL’s Presidium Members Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Kamrul Islam, among others, were present during the meeting.