DHAKA, – Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today criticized the observance of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s birthday as she has six different birth dates, terming the matter as a mockery.

“Khaleda Zia used to do mockery with the nation every year by celebrating fake birthday on August 15 which is observed as ‘National Mourning Day’. According to marriage certificate her birthday is September 5, 1945 where in passport certificate, it is given as August 19,1945. As per the matriculation certificate, Begum Zia’s birthday was August 9, 1945 and later, she again claimed that her birthday was August 15 ,1945,” he said.

He said this while addressing virtually a discussion organized by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on the occasion of National Mourning Day from his residence here.

The minister further said Begum Zia has now revealed the long-standing secret of a person having so many birthdays because finally, as per the information given for the COVID-19 test revealed that Khaleda Zia’s birthday was May 8, 1946.

About the defeated clique, he said, “Awami League believes in liberal democracy and politics and that is why they are getting opportunity to do politics in this country even after so much bloodshed.”

He added that the evil forces did not stop with the brutal massacre on August 15, they also killed four national leaders in jail on November 3 to make the nation leaderless.

The conspiracy then took on a new form as in broad daylight the state machinery was used to carry out ‘Dhaka grenade attack’ on August 21, 2004 targeting Awami League president Sheikh Hasina at an anti-terrorism rally, he continued.

Asking BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Awami League general secretary said “August 15 is a cruel and barbaric murder in the history of the world. Khaleda Zia is joking with the nation by celebrating fake birthday on this day. You have changed the programmes but the fake birthday related programmes of Begum Zia are still remained there.”

Praising the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said her government has been tackling the current crisis despite having various limitations since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The government tackled the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak with far-sighted leadership of the premier Sheikh Hasina and the second wave of it is also being tackled by balancing the life and livelihood of the people of the country, he added.

Noting that all the talks about the implementation and supply of COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign are not reliable, he said “Currently, vaccines are coming from different countries and sources and it will continue to come in the next six months.”

He said that the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign will continue safely as adequate quantity of vaccines will continue to come in the country to ensure vaccination for everyone.

“There is no crisis with vaccination, it will never be in the days to come,” he added.

With Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed in the chair, the programme was addressed, among others, by Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Former Minister AFM Ruhal Haque, President of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, AL Secretary of Health and Population Affairs Dr Rokeya Sultana, president of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SWACHIP) Dr Iqbal Arslan and its general secretary Dr M A Aziz.