Awami League General Secretary and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Monday that people are afraid of BNP's rally as the party is the sponsor of militancy and communalism.  He made the remark after paying tribute to the leader when he visited the grave on the occasion of the 59th death anniversary of Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy on Monday. Read more: 'Smart Bangladesh': Quader reveals AL's slogan for next election BNP wants to hold its public rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan on December 10. But the government has given BNP permission to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. They will not be exempted if they cause disorder in the name of rally, he said. Quader said that under BNP’s rule elections were farce and Awami League activists were not allowed to stay at home with false cases. He said that obstacles have been created step by step in the development of democracy in Bangladesh. After Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina returned home in 1981, Shaheed Suhrawardy started fighting for democracy.  Read more: BNP won't be allowed to orchestrate violence surrounding December 10 rally: Quader "He traveled all over the country and campaigned for the values of the liberation war, for the ideal of liberation war and for democracy. He united the people and freed the shackles of democracy. Terming Hossain Suhrawardy as the son of democracy, the minister said that there is a mystery about the death of Suhrawardy. “We still do not know whether there is any conspiracy behind it or not,” he said.  

President Abdul Hamid has called for a strong national unity against communalism and undemocratic practice in order to realize Bangabandhu’s dream of transforming Bangladesh into ‘Sonar Bangla’ or Golden Bengal. The President was speaking at the inaugural of the two-day special session of Parliament to mark the Golden Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh. He urged the political parties regardless of their ideologies to follow the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, in building a culture of tolerance and mutual respect and take the country ahead.   Read: Cabinet approves President’s draft speech to be delivered in Parliament He also called upon all to accelerate the democratic journey of the nation and socio-economic development of the country irrespective of caste, creed and religion burying the differences on the glorious occasion of the Golden Jubilee of independence. The President said every effort is being made to establish good governance in the country. The Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Human Rights Commission and the Information Commission are actively discharging their responsibilities.  The rule of law has been established by speedily disposing of verdicts in Bangabandhu murder case, war crimes and other sensational cases including trial of crimes against humanity, he said. He added that the government's 'Zero Tolerance' policy aimed at curbing corruption, drug addiction, militancy, terrorism and communalism has brought relief to the country, which is being lauded worldwide.  Annual performance agreements, grievance redressal management, citizens' charter and integrity strategy are being implemented to bring every government institution under transparency and accountability for ensuring good governance, he also added. Hamid also asked political leaders, civil society and stakeholders, irrespective of party affiliation, to work together to establish good governance. Read:Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee of Independence: PM seeks general discussion in Parliament He said, "We need to ensure nutrition and food security, massive industrialization, economic integration, developing infrastructure and building a merit-based society to tackle climate change effects." To this end, everyone must work relentlessly, he added. He said, "Bangladesh needs to continue the ongoing development trend by utilizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to meet the challenge of transition to a developing country." Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the special session where Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of sowing the seeds of communalism in the country in a planned way. “They (govt) are spreading the poison of communalism and sowing its seeds knowingly. Unfortunately, they have brought the communalism to Bangladesh that emerged in the neighbuoring country (India),” he said. Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said the March-26 clashes between police and Hefazat activists took place as communalism spread in Bangladesh. “They’re now arresting people, torturing them and making them disappeared. But the Awami League government is fully responsible for what is happening now in the country due to communalism.” BNP arranged the programme marking the Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community. Fakhrul said democracy is disappearing and getting annihilated duet the rise of autocracy, fascism and communalism. “Democracy is getting defeated amid bigotry. It’s being defeated by authoritarianism and fascism. Those in power are killing people, depriving them of their rights and torturing them to perpetuate power. This is happening all over the world. Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of it.” He said the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, who had fought in 1971 to build a non-communal humanitarian state with equality, have broken as a group of people turned  the country into a ‘monstrous state’ by destroying all the systems just to keep themselves in power." The BNP leader said there is no peace in the country now due to the vindictive attitude of the government. “There are no efforts for the welfare of people here since a group of people are amassing wealth by plundering public money.” He urged people to get united to overcome the current situation of the country. "We’ll create a truly enlightened, democratic state with equality by removing darkness created by Awami League. "Let's take this oath today and get united irrespective of caste and religion to protect the county, restore democratic rights and save people defeating the monstrous regime.”

General secretary of the Awami League  Obaidul Quader has said  that the people of the country are ready to unite against communalism.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said there can be no compromise on the issue of independence and Liberation War.