Staff Reporter:
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the party does not want any conflict with students over the present situation that has been created on quota reform issue.
“The doors of Ganabhaban are open. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she wants to sit with them…she wants to hear them. She does not want any conflict,” he said while addressing a press briefing at the Awami League president’s political office in the city’s Dhanmondi.
“We believe in unity, not in conflict. We had a programme today. It has been postponed. Demands of students for quota reform have been accepted. The movement is now in the hands of a third party who wants to make Bangladesh ineffective. We cannot allow their evil efforts to be successful.”
The Awami League general secretary said, “We have a commitment to the spirit of independence. We expect responsible behaviour from all. Bangladesh would march ahead with the collective efforts of all.”
He said the terrorists are spreading different propaganda through social media platforms. An anti-state group is trying to have ill political gains capitalising on the ongoing situation and it has already been clear.
Quader said innocent children do not know politics. “What do we gain by killing them? Those persons will be benefitted who want to gain from the children.”
He said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing the situation with patience. She has accepted the demands of students. A judicial investigation commission has been formed as per the directive of the prime minister to hold a fair trial of every killing, he added.
He said the investigation committee has already started their work. The government has no objection if the United Nations wants to join the investigation in the interest of a fair and neutral probe, he added.
Awami League Presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretaries Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, and Afzal Hossain and Forest Affairs Secretary Delowar Hossain, among others, were present.