UNB, Dhaka :
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader urged BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to disclose the identity of the ‘dreadful force’ which he claimed to be working from behind the scene to silence the critics of the government.
Awami League general secretary and road transport minister Quader made the remarks at a press conference at his official residence on Monday.
Quader said, “I call on the BNP secretary-general to reveal the identity of that
dreadful force to the public.” ‘A dreadful force’ is working with the government from behind the scenes to silence those who are opposing the government, alleged BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday.
The BNP leader came up with the remark while speaking at a program marking the 14th year of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s imprisonment.
Mirza Fakhrul said cartoonist Kishore’s statement published in newspapers shows a terrible force is working to wipe out those opposing the head of the government on Saturday. Obaidul Quader dismissed the BNP secretary general’s statement as an ‘absurd’ one.
Claiming that there was no freedom of expression in the country during the BNP rule, he said, “Not a single BNP leader has been arrested so far for criticizing the government, so freedom of expression exists.”
Quader also said, “BNP institutionalized corruption in this country. The festival of abuse of power took place during their rule. An alternative power center was created by establishing Hawa Bhaban. “
The Awami League general secretary also alleged that BNP was trying to cause loss of life and property by carrying out ‘violence’ in the name of movement.
Responding to the BNP leaders’ warning of an alternative path if the movement is obstructed, Quader said, “those who have not been able to start a movement on the streets so far need not be stopped.”
