Staff Reporter:
Awami League (AL) general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the prices of essential commodities will be brought under control soon through multifaceted measures.
“If the people face any crisis, it hurts Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The holy month of Ramadan is ahead, we will bring prices of commodities under control soon. Don’t lose your trust on us. Don’t pay any heed to BNP’s propaganda,” he said.
Quader was addressing a peace and democracy rally in front of the AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office here under the arrangement of the party’s Dhaka City South unit.
Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi chaired the rally which was conducted by its gen-eral secretary Humayun Kabir.
AL presidium members Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Advocate Qamrul Islam, joint general secretaries- Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and Mahbubul Alam Hanif and organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque also spoke.
Noting that AL won the 12th parliamentary elections gaining massive votes of the people, Quader said the new government has been formed through the election which saw 41.8 percent voter turnout while twenty-eight parties contested polls, he said.
Coming down heavily on BNP leaders for terming that the government belongs to China, India and Rus-sia, the minister said these countries can be friends of Awami League but no foreign force brings the party in power rather the people do so.
There is suspicion about the patriotism of those who (BNP leaders) make such comment that the gov-ernment belongs to other countries, he said.
Quader described BNP’s black-flag procession program on January 30 as a fake one as black-flag means mourning.
He urged his party men to remain alert in field so that BNP leaders and activists cannot make harm to people in the name of political program.
The AL general secretary called upon the party leaders and workers to join “peace, democracy and de-velopment” rally holding national flags in hand on that day.
In his address, Abdur Razzaque questioned to whom BNP will show black flags. He suggested that BNP should show black flags to those leaders of the party whose programs have failed.
“BNP did every heinous act in order to thwart the elections but the elections have been held in a success-ful and peaceful manner overcoming all local and foreign conspiracies,” he said.
Advocate Qamrul Islam said different countries and global forums are giving their support in favor of the AL government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government is marching forward with a vow to build a Smart Bangla-desh, he added.
He said BNP should admit it’s wrongdoings to the people to return to politics again or it should quit politics.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said the people have already shown black flag to BNP by giving their mandate to Awami League.
Different heads of states and governments are extending congratulations to Sheikh Hasina as the people of Bangladesh voted her to power, he said.
Even foreigners didn’t respond to BNP’s program, he added.
Mahbubul Alam Hanif said it doesn’t matter if any party boycotts an election. The people’s participation has proven that BNP’s all conspiracies have foiled, he said.
“The people of Bangladesh want development and elimination of the evil force (BNP),” he added.
