Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has called BNP’s nationwide road march program “a march towards defeat.”
“Mirza Fakhrul called today’s BNP march a ‘victory march.’ What victory? Their march was, in fact, a march towards defeat, a journey of decline,” Quader said while addressing the AL rally today in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
“What did BNP get from the European Union (delegation)? Did they get a caretaker government? Or Sheikh Hasina’s resignation? Or the resignation of the government? BNP got nothing,” Quader said.
Also read: AL's procession to counter BNP rally ends on day one
“BNP thought that they would get a caretaker government from the US and that the US would tell us to have dialogue with them. The Americans came and went. What did BNP get? They didn’t get diddly-squat,” he added.
The Road, Transport and Bridges Minister stressed that Sheikh Hasina will perform her duties as the head of the government during elections as is the norm in other democracies of the world.
“There won’t be any caretaker government. Parliament will not be dissolved, and there’s no question of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation,” Quader said.
Also read: Quit now, people don’t want to see you in power anymore: Fakhrul to govt
The AL general secretary called upon the BNP and its affiliates to follow the constitution.
Saying that Awami League does not bow down to anyone, he said, "Our one-point is the constitution of Bangladesh. We will apply what is written in the constitution. That's how the election will be held. No matter what you do, we won't move an inch away from that.”
Following Obaidul Quader's inauguration speech at the rally, Awami League's ‘peace and development procession’ programme started at 4 pm from the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
Also read: AL leaders, activists start gathering in front of IEB to join ‘peace and development procession’
The programme was organized in response to the BNP's 'one-point' movement for the government’s resignation.
Later, leaders and activists of Dhaka South City unit of Awami League participated in a procession from outside the Institution of Engineersat 5pm towards Dhanmondi 32. The rally passed through Shahbagh, Kataban, Science Laboratory, Kalabagan and ended in Dhanmondi 32 at around 6 pm.