DHAKA, – Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP does not have such unity of leadership needed to free its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia through a movement.
“I heard about the movement of BNP, but do not find it in reality,” the AL leader told reporters at Sarak Bhaban in the capital after a preparatory meeting on safe journey of homebound people ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Instead of going for movement, BNP should continue ‘legal battle’ to free Khaleda Zia, he said.
“However, they (BNP leaders) can pledge to free their leader. We have no objection in this regard,” Quader added.
He said the threat of movement to make the leaders and workers active is a common strategy of all opposition parties.
BNP has no coordination and unity of leadership to wage a movement to free Khaleda, he added.
Noting that BNP leadership is divided, the AL general secretary said as BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not join the parliament, one seat got vacant.
“But, BNP nominated its candidate for the vacant seat. It also gave nomination for the reserved seat (for women),” he said.
Quader said BNP rejected the government but joined the parliament, which is a double-standard of the party.
About the illness of Khaleda Zia, he said the BNP leaders should not do politics over her treatment, but they should do positive polities over their leader.
About the journey of homebound people ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, the minister said the government has taken various initiatives to ensure safe journey of the holidaymakers during the Eid and if these initiatives are implemented properly, people will not face any trouble in going home.
He said about 300 volunteers will be deployed on the highways from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur to ensure smooth journey of the home goers during Eid.
Quader said the Roads and Highway Department will not cancel leaves of its staff during the upcoming religious festival of the Muslims.
Additional Secretary of Road Transport and Highway Division Nazrul Islam and Roads and Highway Department Chief Engineer Ibne Hasan Alam were, among others, present.
