BSS :
Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday called upon all political parties of the country, including BNP, and other concerned to play a responsible role in protecting the lives of people amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
He came up with the call while speaking at a regular press briefing on contemporary issues at his official residence in the city.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said instead of encouraging people in the time of this crisis, the BNP is trying to break down their mental strength by spreading confusion among them.
Coming down heavily on the BNP for its ill-politics, he asked the party’s leaders to come out of the circle of grief and criticism and stand by people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus would not favour any particular party or thought, he added.
Responding to an allegation of BNP leaders, Quader said from the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina repeatedly called for the cooperation of all irrespective of their party affiliation.
He said as per the recommendations of the expert committee, the premier is implementing various decisions to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Mentioning that the BNP continues its lip service by keeping itself in isolation since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the AL general secretary said the Sheikh Hasina’s government and the Awami League have been staying beside the country’s people from the very beginning of the pandemic.
The BNP’s propaganda is also on the rise keeping pace with the high level of virus infections, he said, adding their crocodile tears for the helpless people is limited within issuing statements.
Quader said the BNP once demands enforcement of strict lockdown and it again says that people are suffering from the lockdown.
“Now again they are saying that curfew is not the solution to this. I want to know from the BNP leaders, is the government saying that curfew is the solution?” he questioned.
He added, “If people do not survive, for whom will we do politics? But the BNP leaders are trying to criticise the government and smell corruption as the practice of politics during this crisis.”
The AL general secretary said the government is working for the welfare of people and it has been taking harsher actions against those involved in irregularities and corruption. “The politics now is to save the country’s people,” he added.
He said the virus infection has reached a terrible level around the world and different countries have been working to address the pandemic following the recommendations of experts.
The experts do not belong to any particular party, but the BNP wants formulation of a committee involving its people, Quader said, adding that there is no instance of a party committee anywhere in the world.
