Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Awami League, on Thursday said that some elements are overplaying the defects found in the construction of only 24 out of thousands of houses gifted to the homeless by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The government has provided houses for one crore twenty lakh homeless people on the occasion of the Mujib Year, Quader said adding that defects have been found only in 0.25 per cent of the houses. Read: BNP has lost interest in elections, says Obaidul Quader At a virtual regular press briefing he urged all to remain vigilant against any motivated propaganda against the noble and humanitarian programme of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The faulty houses will be repaired and rebuilt by the government, said Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister. Read: Obaidul Quader: Covid vaccines to be collected, no matter what He said the houses were built on government-owned land (khas land) and in many cases damages occurred as those were built in relatively low lying areas. He said that an inquiry committee has already been formed on the instructions of the prime minister. Punitive and disciplinary action will be taken against those found responsible for the faulty construction.   He also warned that those involved in negligence and irregularities in duty will not be spared. The Awami League leader said the free housing programme for the homeless is being implemented under the direction and plan of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A limited series of special edition wristwatches designed and commissioned by High Commission of India were unveiled on Tuesday as part of celebrating "Mujib Borsho" together.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said crowding and gathering during the upcoming Eid need to be avoided at any cost.    “People’s free movement, crowding and gathering during the last Eid-ul-Fitr led to a rise in Covid-19 cases. Such gathering and crowding should be avoided at any cost during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha for the sake of one's own survival,” said Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, at a regular briefing at his official residence.   He said the government is now facing three challenges -- prevention of coronavirus, protection of vulnerable people and victims  in 12 flood-hit districts, and prevention of crowding during Eid-ul-Azha.   Although the development work in the country has been hampered to some extent due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the pace in work has retuned in various ongoing mega projects under the ministry,  the minister added.   Despite various adversities, Quader said, the work on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's priority projects -- Padma Bridge, Metrorail Route-6, Karnafuli Tunnel, Elevated Expressway and other projects -- are now going on in full swing.   He said Sheikh Hasina's government is a development-oriented government which is trying to build ‘Golden Bengal’ as dreamt by Bangabandhu by maintaining the ongoing development trend for improving the lifestyle and social security of people.