DHAKA, –Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today called upon BNP to work on pro-people issues instead of doing ill politics and spending time in hatching conspiracies and spreading rumours and propaganda.

“You (BNP) should play a responsible role as an opposition party. BNP leaders should seek pardon to people for their ill politics and carrying out arson terrorism,” he told the inaugural ceremony of four-lane second bridge at Salehpur on Dhaka-Aricha highway.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, joined the ceremony through a video-conferencing from his official residence on parliament premises here.

He said 12 years have gone but BNP is yet to set the goals of their movement.

“The people have turned away from BNP, listening about their announcement of movement again and again. The people didn’t witness a single movement of BNP in the last 12 years,” he said, questioning when BNP would wage a movement.
The minister said the BNP leaders took the path of making blind criticism of the government as their key strategy instead of waging a movement for the release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

“Now the people are also suspicious about BNP’s purposes. BNP leaders are more interested in opposing the government than getting the release of Begum Zia,” he added.

Quader said Awami League does not believe in announcing counter programmes rather the party announces rallies, discussions and mass-contact as per pre-scheduled programmes on the occasion of golden jubilee of independence and Mujib Barsho.

“This is not counter programme,” he said.

The AL general secretary said after announcing programme, BNP leaders are now saying that they will wage movement after reorganizing the party.

“Actually the people have realized how much capable BNP is in waging movement. The party workers have become frustrated as 12 years have gone showing different excuses,” he said.

He said BNP’s movement is now limited within the mass media and social media.

Turning to transport sector, the minister said development works will not bring any benefit unless discipline is brought in the sector.

He asked all concerned to take all necessary measures to bring discipline in road and transport sectors.

He gave directives to remove unnecessary banners, festoons and signboards to keep beauty of highways.

The minister asked all concerned to put much emphasis on maintaining quality in constructing roads and complete the ongoing works on roads before monsoon.