DHAKA,  – Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today called upon all irrespective of opinions and party affiliations to stand by the distressed and working class people during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

“All irrespective of parties and opinions should extend cooperation to people during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. If people don’t exist, what will the organizations do?” he said.

Quader was addressing a Covid-19 protective equipment distribution ceremony arranged by AL relief and social welfare sub-committee at the party’s central Bangabandhu Avenue office joining it virtually from his official residence here. He said though the opposition parties are criticizing the government, they do not stand by the people.

No other political parties except AL stay beside the people as AL is the only political party which is extending cooperation to the poor and working class people from villages to the capital during the pandemic.

About oxygen and vaccines, the minister said there is no crisis of oxygen in the country now and there will be no crisis of vaccines for Covid-19.

People’s negligence, unawareness and indifference in maintaining health guidelines are major problems and the scenario is similar from villages to towns and cities, he said.

Mentioning that the infection rate is rising due to carelessness, he urged the people to wear facemasks properly while going out of home for own safety.

In reply to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s comment that AL is responsible for Rupganj incident, the AL general secretary said Mirza Fakhrul might hold the AL responsible any day in future if someone is killed in thunderbolt.

Noting that the government has taken quick measures over the Rupganj fire incident, the minister said the incident is a warning for those institutions which are doing business keeping their employees at risk.

AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury chaired the programme while AL Presidium Member Abdur Rahman, Organizing Secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi and General Secretary Md Humayun Kabir addressed it, among others.

Later, the leaders handed over Covid-19 protective equipment among representatives.