Awami League General Secretary
No irregularity in providing govt incentives to be tolerated, warns Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has asked all concerned to stay alert so that no one can indulge in any irregularity while disbursing government incentives.
“No irregularity will be tolerated in this case,” Quader said during a briefing at his official residence on Wednesday.
Read: 'Only program now is to stand by the people': Obaidul Quader
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced an incentive package of Tk 3,200 crore for the low-income people hit hard by the ongoing lockdown restrictions, and job creation in rural areas, workers of tourism and transport workers and day-labourers, the Awami League general secretary said.
He said there should be maximum attention to make sure that the real victims are enlisted for the incentives.
Of the total amount of the incentive packages, Tk 2,200 crore will come from the national coffer.
Another amount of Tk 1,000 crore has been earmarked to provide loans in the tourism sector with government subsidies, said Quader.
Read: Obaidul Quader slams BNP
He said the initiative of easing restrictions was taken to ease the sufferings of people during the Eid journeys as well as ensure the financial safety of the working people and maintain the pace of the national economy.
Public Transport
Public transports will operate at their half capacities across the country from Thursday as the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, he said.
The minister hoped that the transport owners and workers' organizations would operate their vehicles in compliance with the Covid-related conditions like hygiene rules keeping the current Corona situation in mind.
Read: Obaidul Quader pleased by 'development-friendly' budget
Quader warned that legal action will be taken against the transport owners for collection of extra fare and non-compliance of health guidelines.
PM monitoring developments after factory fire in Rupganj: Quader
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is monitoring the situation and the measures taken by the government after a devastating factory fire killed 52 workers at Rupganj near Dhaka, the Awami League general secretary said on Saturday.
Obaidul Quader, who is also road transport and bridges minister, was addressing virtually an event marking the observance of the 15th anniversary of Bangabandhu Adarsh Forum in Dhaka.
Also read: Rupganj fire: Sajeeb Group chairman, sons among 8 put on remand
He expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the tragic blaze and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
Saying three committees have been formed to probe the fire, Quader vowed that no one found responsible for the disaster will be spared.
Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames
The fire broke out at Hashem Foods Ltd at Bhulta, Rupganj under Narayanganj district around 5 p.m. Thursday.
The meeting was presided over by Natyajan Ataur Rahman, president of Bangabandhu Adarsh Forum.
Govt to reach food to one crore families before Eid: Quader
About one crore poor and helpless families will get food aid from the government during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha considering their hardships caused by coronavirus, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Tuesday.
The aid package is part of the government’s numerous initiatives to provide financial and food assistance to the helpless and working people who have been affected by the pandemic, Quader said in his regular briefing.
Referring to floods in parts of the country the AL leader urged his party’s members to stand by the affected people with relief and whatever else they need.
Also read: Govt to give Tk7.70 crore to Covid, disaster-hit families
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the administration to take early preparations to mitigate the possible damage and sufferings floods may cause.
Quader urged the administration as well as Awami League leaders and workers in the flood-hit areas to stand by the people.
He said it has always been the Awami League who reaches the affected people with relief and help during natural disasters.
Also read: Covid: 77pc families in Bangladesh hit hard by first wave, says study
Quader urges party members to help people during lockdown
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has asked members of his party and allied bodies to stand by the helpless people during the strict lockdown due to be imposed on Thursday.
Quader was speaking virtually at a function marking distributing Covid health and safety products to 30 boarder districts and upazilas.
The distribution was organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi this morning.
Saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has successfully tackled the first wave of corona by balancing between life and livelihood, Quader called for everyone’s cooperate in implementing her practical and timely initiative to manage the ongoing second wave.
Also read: Violation of lockdown rules to invite legal action, warns DMP
Coroner infections are now at high risk, the Awami League general secretary said, adding that high-level infections have spread from border districts to the capital, spreading to rural areas.
Quader said that it is necessary to take utmost measures for the safety of all.
He said there is no alternative to fully mask up to ward off the infections. The slightest negligence towards hygiene can cause death.
Mentioning that the Sheikh Hasina government has decided to impose strict restrictions from July 1 as per the advice of experts for the protection of the people, Quader called urged all to stay home for their own good.
Also read: Govt outlines restriction rules ahead of ‘tough’ lockdown
The Awami League leader said the prime minister always takes right decision in times of crisis and disaster.
Quader also called upon all to have confidence in the steps being taken by the prime minister to deal with the situation.
He said opposition BNP is merely spreading confusion among the people about government’s mass vaccination programme.
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, the party’s presidium member, presided over the function. Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Health Secretary Dr Rokeya and Human Resources Secretary Samsunnahar Champa, Central Executive Member Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and Relief Sub-Committee Member Dr. Hedayetul Islam Badal were also present.
BNP resorting to politics of violence, says Quader
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Awami League, on Thursday accused Bangladesh Nationalist Party of instigating violence in the country.
Quader said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is displaying great tolerance and patience in the face of various provocations of the opposition.
He described BNP’s politics as monstrous” and said the government is dealing with the situation with utmost tolerance in the face of hundreds of provocations.
Also read: Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
Noting that the BNP does not want stability in the country, the general secretary of ruling party said the opposition party wants to establish a reign of terror in the country.
He said the BNP's politics is to destroy the resources of the people and the state in the name of movement.
Also read: BNP desperate to regain power through dark ways: Quader
Quader said BNP has to come to the path of election to go to power.
He said his party has confidence in the people because it believes in empowerment of the people.
Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said that the BNP has chosen the path of conspiracy to avenge its defeat in both elections and movement.
"If any violent situation is created in the name of movement, Awami League will give proper response on the streets," he warned.
Quader said this while distributing corona protection materials among the representatives of the lockdown-hit districts organized by the Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee on Bangabandhu Avenue.
Also read: BNP desperate to regain power through dark ways: Quader
Calling on the BNP to stand by the helpless people the Awami League leader said BNP does nothing for the people apart from just lip service.
The ruling party second-in-command also commented that those who boycotted the elections can never believe in democracy.
Quader said, the people no longer believe in BNP’s wholesale criticism of the government.
He said that the BNP has no eye to see the development work done by the government.
Also read: BNP has lost interest in elections, says Obaidul Quader
Quader said that BNP gone to a state when they may even blame the government for the deaths of people in lightning strikes.
Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Education and Human Resources Secretary Samshunnahar Champa, Central Executive Member Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and MP Nurul Amin Ruhul were also present.
Quader distributed corona protection materials among the delegates.
Obaidul Quader pleased by 'development-friendly' budget
Awami League General Secretary and Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader acknowledged this year's 'development-friendly' budget.
He made the remarks in a budget reaction after the proposed budget was placed in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Read:BNP's budget reaction imaginary, traditional old story: Quader
Quader also said the proposed budget is 'realistic' and 'timely' to tackle the Coronavirus crisis with the assured participation of all the people of the country, and prioritising lives and livelihoods.
Read: AL wants increased allocation to ICT sector
The Tk 602,880 crore budget for 2021-22 fiscal, themed around "Priority on lives and livelihoods, tomorrow's Bangladesh," was placed before parliament on Thursday.
AL general secretary seeks cordial relation with the media
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said he does not want to see any hostility between the government and the media.
“I don’t want any confrontation and I want to see a cordial relations with the media," Quader said in reply to a question after a meeting with a group of journalist leaders at the Secretariat.
Quader, who doubles as Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said he met the leaders in his capacity as the general secretary of the ruling party.
He said the leaders raised with him some issues regarding the newspaper industry, withdrawal of a case against journalist Rozina Islam, media rights and some other demands.
Talking about Rozina’s case and other demands Quader, said “A ministry concerned is there to settle the issue. Besides, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Home Ministry and Law Ministry are there and some special things related to the issues have to be informed to the Prime Minister.”
“They have raised the problems and I will place these to the prime minister,” he said.
Replying to a question whether the case filed against Rozina should be withdrawn; the Minister said “The case is now in the court. We have to discuss the matter with Law minister and others and after an overall consideration and discussion with all I can tell about this.”
Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam was sent to jail on May 18 in a case filed under the Official Secrets Act and the Penal Code by the Health Ministry.
She was freed from Kashimpur Women's Central Jail on May 23 after a Dhaka court granted her an ad-interim bail until July 15.
BNP involved in destabilising country: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said BNP is involved in all the direct and indirect attempts to destabilize the country.
He made the remarks at a regular briefing at his official residence this morning.
Obaidul Quader said that the BNP was directly and indirectly involved in the terrorism and violence that Hefazat carried out in different parts of the country on March 26 with the aim of destabilizing the country.
He said the BNP had earlier indirectly helped Hefazat create terrorism with the aim of destabilizing the country even on the issue of sculpture.
He also said that the BNP secretary general is not giving any explanation of the debate on the birthday of Khaleda Zia but it is criticising the government on one issue every day.
The general secretary of Awami League also said that after coming to power in 2001, the BNP government carried out a steamroller of torture on the people of the country. It has killed 21,000 Awami League leaders and workers.
Also read: Obaidul Quader: Covid vaccines to be collected, no matter what
Obaidul Quader said the BNP had made the country a valley of death with the blood of thousands of Awami League leaders and activists during the Jamaat-e-Islami government's rule, adding that they had introduced disappearance, murder, rape and torture.
Reminding the BNP leaders that BNP has forgotten that hundreds of women including Mahima, Rahima and Purnima were raped, he said that the persecution of the minority community also defeated the persecution of the Pak aggressors in 1971.
Beware of Indian covid variant: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday urged everyone to remain cautious about the dangerous Indian strain of coronavirus that has recently been detected in Bangladesh.
He made the call at a discussion meeting on "Things to do to deal with Covid-19 on the occasion of Mujib Year".
Quader virtually joined the programme organised by Bangabandhu Diploma Engineers Council at IDEB Bhaban in the capital this morning from his official residence.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 56 deaths, 1,386 new cases
He said that the slightest indifference of the people can cause disaster.
Mentioning that the people of this country have been successfully dealing with many natural and man-made disasters in the past under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said Bangladesh will be able to deal with the ongoing crisis successfully under her guidance.
He called on all to exercise restraint and said that it is necessary to build strong awareness in order to save the country from this epidemic.
Also read: Bangladesh detects first case of Indian Coronavirus strain
Quader said the only recourse now is to prevent the virus’ transmission by celebrating Eid without travelling to villages heeding the call of the Prime Minister.
He said that India had the highest death record yesterday and now it is experiencing the extreme spread of the virus.
"Despite being a country famous for its oxygen production, India is in dire need of oxygen today. There’s a cry for help, the sidewalk has now become a crematorium in India," he said.
Also read: Indian Covid Strain: Two more cases identified in Jessore
He said Bangladesh is doing relatively good because of the courageous, far-sighted and humane leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
She has managed to bring the situation under control by coordinating between life and livelihood, the Awami League leader said.