Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP leaders are now talking ridiculously after being boycotted by the people in elections and movements.
“BNP is continuing its ill politics of making absurd comments in media. But they are yet to realise that the citizens of digital Bangladesh are very conscious and they do not accept such comments of BNP leaders,” he said.
Quader, also minister for road transport and bridges, was addressing a virtual function arranged by the AL’s relief and social welfare sub-committee at the party president’s Dhanmondi political office, reports BSS.
The event was arranged to hand over coronavirus protective equipment and relief goods to be distributed among flood victims through representatives.
In the wake of floods in different districts, BNP leaders are out to do politics to mislead the people and create panic capitalising on the humanitarian crisis instead of staying beside the flood victims.
On the other hand, Awami League leaders are making all-out efforts to stand by the marooned people with relief goods and other necessaries even pushing their life at risk amid the outbreak of deadly coronavirus (Covid-19), Quader said.
The AL general secretary said those who do not stand by people during their crisis but play with their emotion by spreading rumours capitalising on their miseries would be dumped into the trash bin of history.
“After failing in elections and movement and being isolated from the people, BNP leaders are now out to spread rumours to hide their failures and weakness. They are spreading hatred against the government by making tactful comments on media,” he said.
The minister said the people of this soil have absolute trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and they know it very well that there is no alternative to her leadership to face the crisis period and afterwards revive the pace of the country’s economic uplift.
He expressed his optimism that Bangladesh would overcome the current crisis under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina to go towards the development to attain the country’s cherished goals to become a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The minister said the government has made mandatory to have Covid-19 negative certificate in going aboard while testing centres have also been designated and samples are being collected before 72 hours of leaving home.
Quader said all countries facing the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus have some restrictions and even advanced countries are facing difficulties to contain the spread of the virus.
In spite of different limitations, Bangladesh has been making its best efforts to contain the pandemic since the outset, he added.
“Overcoming all setbacks, the government has been making restless efforts to strengthen health network, ensure safety of distressed and jobless people and provide medical equipment and all other necessaries to contain the spread of the deadly virus,” he said.
Quader said everyone must realise that remaining aware is the biggest weapon to fight the pandemic and “we have to make united efforts to build resistance against its spread.”
Mentioning the government’s move to make mandatory wearing mask outside homes, he called upon all to maintain the health guidelines and social or physical distancing rules strictly to build a fort of consciousness against Covid-19 to safeguard own life, family and thus the society.
Quader said Bangladesh is now stronger in facing disaster than any previous time (in past) and it has been possible because of the incumbent government’s success in sustaining economic progress in the last one decade.
Describing the government’s multidimensional efforts in facing crisis, he said on one hand, the government is making efforts in containing Covid-19, on the other hand, it is keeping the lives and livings of the people in force by maintaining health guidelines and standing by flood victims with relief goods and treatment and taking up rehabilitation programme for post-flood period.
Apart from the government, leaders and workers of AL and associate and like-minded organisations are in the field to stand by people in their dire need, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury said it is the heritage of AL to stand by the people in their well and woes whether the party stays in power or not.
AL presidium member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said BNP leaders are not in any activities in the crisis period and that is why they are only holding press briefings.
AL Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Labour Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present on the occasion, among others, at the Dhanmondi office here.
