Awami League General Secretary
US sanctions on Rab offficals politically motivated, will encourage militancy: Quader
The US sanctions on the IGP and six Rab officiala have been politically motivated, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Sunday adding that the decision will inspire terrorism and militancy.
At a briefing at his office in the Secretariat this morning Quader said Rab as an elite force has been professional in discharge of its work.
He recalled the contriversial US role during Bangladesh liberation war in 1971 and after assassinaton of Bangabandhu in 1975.
Yet Bangladesh did not allow these issues to stand on way of establishing friendly relations with Washington, he said.
Also read: Sanctions on Rab: Law Minister calls it ‘unfortunate’
He said the US move has hurt Bangladesh when it is celebrating 50 years of its indepence..
The two countries are working from their respective positions on multilateral issues including bilateral and common issues, he said.
Quader said that the Anti-Corruption Commission is playing an independent role in carrying out any investigation but it is unreasonable to impose sanctions on a force chief and former officers by making baseless allegations.
Speaking about human rights, the Awami League general secretary also said that such a decision is a kind of violation of human rights.
He urged them to first look into the human rights situation in their country first.
Obaidul Quader said that the death of George Floyd had shaken the whole world which raised the question about the human rights issue of the US administration.
Obaidul Quader said hat the UN itself had expressed concern over the issue of discrimination and oppression of blacks.
"Where millions of people die each year in gun attacks, the world has witnessed the tragic deaths of five people trying to seize Capital Hill after losing an election. The world has seen the face of American democracy and the face of their human rights," he also added.
Obaidul Quader said that Amnesty International had repeatedly pointed out the weakness of the United States in its indicators of internal democracy and protection of human rights.
Some of Bangabandhu's assassins are still hiding in America, war criminals have also fled there, said Awami League general secretary
Robert Reich, a former US senator of Labor said in a tweet that US law enforcement 984
there have been 8,800 extrajudicial killings by US law enforcement and about 1,000 people die without trial every year, according to various sources.
He said any comment on human rights is not acceptable where ordinary people take to the streets in different cities to protest against extrajudicial killings day after day.
Quader said, "We are sure that some anti-Bangladesh people and evil forces may have political motives behid the decision."
Obaidul Quader said that the people of the country think that their ban on a security force of Bangladesh is political and a despicable attempt to force Bangladesh to surrender to their state of slavery.
Also read: Sanctions on RAB: FM says impact on relations depends on US
Noting that no conspiracy against the people of Bangladesh created through the great liberation war has worked in the past, he added that Bangladesh has turned from a vacuum despite various international conspiracies.
In Palestine, when Israel indiscriminately destroys hundreds of homes, including helpless women and innocent children, by dropping missiles and violating human rights, US foreign policy is in favor of Israel, not even uttering a word.
He added that those responsible for the deaths and displacement of people in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Yemen are giving the world a sense of human rights today.
Citing mutual trust and confidence as the basis of our friendly relations with the United States, Quader said Bangladesh hoped that the US administration would be more informed and careful in making decisions to advance the existing relationship between the people of the two countries.
He further added that there is an opportunity for any issue to be resolved through dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh has already summoned the US ambassador to express its anger and dissatisfaction, he hoped.
"We believe that the US administration will move away from this irrational and one-sided decision," he also hoped.
Quader blasts BNP for creating religious division in Bangladesh
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that those who use religion for political gain want to create division among religious communities.
He made the remarks while speaking at a briefing at his residence this morning.
"Those who could not accept the independence of this country, development and prosperity, they want to divide the nation, weaken it and tarnish the image of the country. BNP and its allies want to create this dividing line," he said.
Describing BNP as politically communal organization Quader said BNP leaders have turned lies into an art by claiming that the government is involved in communal attacks.
Read: Stay alert against communal forces, says Quader
Referring to the BNP as an enemy of the minorities, he further said that they thought that attacking the puja mandaps would increase the distrust of the Hindu community in the government and destroy Bangladesh's existing friendship with India.
The AL leader said the BNP carried out the propaganda that mosques will turn into temples in the past as well.
Quader said BNP’s atrocities against minorities surpassed even the attacks in 1971 after it came to power in 2001. He said that BNP has not been able to quit communal politics yet.
Read: No tolerance for communal attacks: Quader
Referring to the observance of Eid-e- Miladunnabi being observed on Wednesday Quader said that the day is sacred and glorious for the Muslim Ummah.
He urged Muslims of the country to follow the ideals of Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH).
Quader also greeted the members of the Buddhist community on behalf of the Awami League on Prabarana Purnima, being celebrated on Wednesday.
No tolerance for communal attacks: Quader
Condemning attacks on Hindu community in the country’s different places, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday urged all to identify and hand over those who create rumour on social media to the law enforcement agencies.
He, in a statement, said the culprits behind the communal attacks would be brought to justice and the masterminds would be hunted down soon.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, vehemently protested the attacks on Hindu community’s temples, houses and business establishments in different places of the country, including Chattogram, Chowmuhani and Burirchar of Hatia in Noakhali.
Read:Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister
Noting that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, he said attacks on any religious community would never be tolerated. “The people of Bangladesh are secular and religious, but not sectarian and bigoted,” he said.
Obaidul Quader said Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given strict instructions to the law enforcement agencies to restore peace and order as well as harmony in these parts of the country.
Read:Cumilla incident: DIG says offenders to be hunted down
He called upon all progressive people who believe in the spirit of the country's liberation war to unite to resist the BNP-Jamaat evil-alliance, which is the patron of these bigoted, communal and militant forces.
None of those involved in Cumilla incident to be spared: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has warned that those involved in the Cumilla incident (desecration of holy Quran) will be brought to justice and no one offender will be spared.
“It’s an act of an evil communal force, and those who attack Hindu temples won’t be spared either, even if they belong to any party,” Obaidul Quader said while addressing the Mahastami (8th day) of Durga Puja at KIB premises in the capital on Wednesday evening.
He said a united resistance has to be built against those who want to destroy the communal harmony in the country before the national election.
Read: “Desecration of holy Quran” in Cumilla, govt urges calm
Mentioning that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set a unique example of communal harmony in Bangladesh, the AL leader said Durga Puja has become universal as it is being observed in a festive mood across the country.
Obaidul Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the Puja is now being celebrated in about 30,000 to 35,000 mandaps across the country and this has caused a heartburn among the evil forces that want to destroy the atmosphere of communal harmony.
Obaidul Quader called upon all to remain united and alert so that no one can create chaos or attack any temple.
BNP daydreaming of staging 90s-like mass upsurge: Quader
Stating that the perspective of the 90s and 2021 is not the same, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said that BNP’s plan to create another mass uprising like the 90s is a daydream.
"The perspective of the 90s and 2021 is not the same. So, the BNP’s plan to create another mass uprising like the 90s aiming to oust the government is now a daydream," he said.
He said this while addressing a briefing at his residence in reply to the recent remarks of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Quader urges BNP to forget neutral caretaker govt. for polls
On Monday, Mirza Fakhrul called upon students and people in general to unite for "another mass uprising", like that of 1990, to oust the current government.
"Students and people overthrew the then dictatorial government through a mass uprising in the 1990s. Our leader Khaleda Zia led the movement. We need such a mass uprising again," said Fakhrul.
Quader urges BNP to forget neutral caretaker govt. for polls
BNP should cooperate in the formation of a neutral election commission instead of bothering about an impartial caretaker government during the next general election, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Wednesday.
Quader was addressing virtually the triennial conference of Tongibari Upazila Awami League in Munshiganj district.
He said that all affairs related to election are placed under the Election Commission which is empowered to take any action to make the balloting free and fair.
He said the election-time government carries out only routine duties and assist the EC in holding a peaceful free and fair election.
Read: Next neutral national poll to be held on time: Quader
Quader trashed BNP leader Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s recent comment that people will vote for BNP to get rid of Awami League’s misrule.
“The reality is that people have voted for Awami League to free them from BNP misrule,” he said.
He said people are happy with the rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “They will not allow them to be trapped by BNP again,” he said.
Read: Work for the people’s welfare, not for personal gain, Quader asks AL members
Quader said voters have turned away from the BNP long ago and this has become clear in the recent by-elections and local government polls too.
Awami League presidium member Dr Abdur Razzak, organizing secretary Mirza Azam, liberation war affairs secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, legal affairs secretary Najibullah Hiru, MP Sagufta Yasmin Emily, among others, also addressed the council.
BNP sitting out polls for 'fear of losing': Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has chastised the BNP for turning their back on elections, putting it down to a 'fear of losing' on the part of the opposition.
He made the remarks while delivering a speech Saturday to his party activists from his official residence.
Mentioning that the Election Commission is committed to free and fair voting, the General Secretary of the Awami League said that the government will extend all kinds of cooperation to the Election Commission to ensure fair voting.
Quader also called upon all registered political parties including BNP to participate in the elections.
READ: Don’t resort to arson again in name of movement, Quader warns BNP
Quader again warned the Awami League leaders and workers and party-nominated people's representatives at all levels to shun any rebel candidates in the election.
Alongside, he also called upon all to work together for the party's nominee.
The AL started selling nomination forms for the interested candidates for the party nomination in the elections of different levels from October 2, which will continue till October 6 from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
The party also informed that interested candidates will have to collect and submit an application form for party nomination from the political office of the Awami League president in Dhanmondi.
READ: Padma Bridge to open before June next year: Quader
At the time of collecting the application form, all the candidates must bring a photocopy of the national identity card and submit the nomination form by 5 pm on October 6, 2021.
The general secretary of the Awami League said that the candidates have to comply with the proper health protection rules without any kind of public meeting while the candidate can collect and submit the application form himself or through a representative of the candidate.
Padma Bridge to open before June next year: Quader
The Padma Bridge will be opened for vehicular movement before June next year, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday.
The Awami League general secretary announced this while virtually attending a Doa mahfil and Quran distribution programme to mark Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 75th birthday at Naria upazila in Shariatpur district.
“You have lost your lands, houses for PM’s vision of Padma Bridge which is already visible,” the minister said to the people of Shariatpur.
Quader said Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the much-cherished bridge.
Padma Bridge is one of the top priority projects of the government as it has planned to strengthen the country’s communications network, aiming to give a boost to economic activity.
On December 10, 2020, the last span, named 2S, was installed on pillars 12 and 13 of the bridge at Mawa point.
Read: Rail operation on Padma Bridge may start from Dec 2022: Minister
About Padma Bridge
China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation (MBEC), was appointed for the main bridge work. The steel material bridge’s length is 6.15 km, viaduct 3.148 km (road), 532 m (rail), approach road: 12.117 km, span: 41 (with each span being 150 meters long).
However, the project was first approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) with an estimated cost of Tk10,161 crore in 2007.
Quader trashes Fakhrul’s vaccine corruption allegation
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has refuted BNP’s allegation of corruption in Covid vaccination as fictional.
At a briefing from his official residence Quader asked his BNP counterpart Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to provide accurate information on where corruption is taking place.
Quader said that BNP is trying to mislead the people by commenting about vaccination from time to time without being informed properly.
Many of the BNP have taken not only the first dose of Covid vaccine, but also the second dose, he added.
READ: Metro rail services to be opened in December,2022: Quader
Quader said that BNP is getting upset as more people are now getting vaccinated in phases and more will receive the shots.
Advising BNP secretary general to oil their own machine without thinking too much about Awami League, Quader said that the party that has failed to hold its national council on time
better not comment on their party.
READ: Quader wants good relationship between politicians and bureaucrats
Quader blasts business leaders for breaking their promise
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said business people have failed to keep their promise of reopening the export oriented factories only with workers available in Dhaka and its adjoining areas during the ongoing lockdown.
At a briefing at his residence Quader said "The business leaders had promised to start the factories with the workers who are residing near the workplaces. But in reality many factory owners have sent notices to the workers to quickly return to work."
The short notice has prompted workers’ hurried return to the capital city in thousands ignoring all Covid health protocols for fear of losing jobs, he said. This might aggravate the surging pandemic situation in the country, he feared.
Read: AL shows zero tolerance to intruders in the party, says Quader
He said the government decided to allow the export-oriented industries to open at the request of the business people.
Accordingly, the mainly the garment factories reopened Monday (Aug. 1), even though the current lockdown would continue until Aug. 5.
Caught off-guard by the decision thousands of workers, who had gone to village homes along with their family members on Eid holidays, began returning to Dhaka either by foot or by rickshaw vans, trawlers, goods-laden pickup truck in the absence of public transport.
Read: No political harassment in the country, says Obaidul Quader
In a last moment decision the government allowed public transport to operate only until Saturday noon to facilitate the workers' return to work.