Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday condemned and protested the ‘false, fabricated and politically motivated’ statements of BNP leaders.
‘BNP leaders, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are lying continuously. In fact, they have no respect for democracy and the rule of law,’ he said in a statement.
Quader said that BNP was patronising arson terrorists. On the other hand, they alleged that the government was suppressing the opposition party when the law enforcers took legal action against the terrorists.
He said that the BNP was hatching conspiracy continuously to destroy the continuation of democracy and stability. The party (BNP) carried out terrorist activities to destroy democracy and to foil elections before the 12th national polls, he said, adding that BNP-Jamaat had killed hundreds of innocent people through arson and petrol bomb attacks during 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The AL general secretary said that the government was not sending anyone to jail recklessly rather accused BNP leaders and activists were facing law and court and getting bail.
The court will take proper legal actions against the terrorists and their godfathers who were involved in killing innocent people and destroying public and state properties, he added.
Quader said that BNP leaders were not respectful of the law. So, they are trying to protect terrorists by raising false allegations of suppression against the opposition party.
‘I would like to say confidently that Awami League does not believe in the suppression of the opposition party. But there is no concession to the terrorists. The terrorists, irrespective of their party affiliation, must face trial,’ he said.
He said that the BNP leaders made confusing and unethical political statements over upazila polls. Awami League is determined to uphold the culture of democracy, he said, adding that local elections of different levels are needed to empower people.
The AL general secretary said that the upazila parishad elections would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner. But, BNP has taken a stance against the polls and the country’s democracy like before, he continued.
He said that Awami League has to take a strategic stance in the perspective of BNP’s stand over the polls. So, AL is not allocating party symbols in the polls, he said, adding Awami League hopes that acceptable candidates from the party and beyond will be elected.
He said that tough directives had been given from the party so that ministers, lawmakers and party leaders could not interfere in the election.
Quader said that a festive mood had been created across the country centering on upazila parishad elections in the first phase. But, BNP is trying to make the polls questionable, he added.
The AL leader urged the countrymen to remain alert against the BNP’s ill efforts to destroy democracy.
He also urged the AL leaders and activists to cooperate with the Election Commission to hold the polls free, fair and peaceful.
