DHAKA, May 1, 2022 (BSS) - Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport

and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said his party is not a captive of
any force rather the people of this country are the key strength of AL.

"People are the source of strength of Awami League. It doesn't have to be a
captive of any other force," he told an Eid gift distribution ceremony for
distressed people on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at AL's
Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

AL sub-committee on relief and social welfare arranged the programme on the
occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

"Awami League has many friends abroad but it doesn't have any lord. On the
other hand, BNP has many foreign lords. BNP always makes complaints to its
foreign lords," Quader said.

The AL general secretary said his party stands by people in every crisis or
disaster ahead of any other political parties.

Noting that AL never gets frustrated, he said everyone of the party is
working under the dynamic and prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
The minister said Bangladesh can seek Indian support for resolving the
unsettled issue of Teesta river water sharing as it's a national interest.

He said the country didn't get any benefit by keeping the dispute unsettled
for 21 years rather it faced loss.

All unsettled issues with India should be resolved through talks with the
neighboring country, he mentioned.

On the occasion of the historic May Day, Quader extended greetings to all
working class people saying the May Day is day of unity.

Terming AL as an organization of this soil and people, he said since its
inception, the party always stayed beside people and thus it gained people's
confidence.

Even when AL was in opposition, the party stood by people in their weal and
woe ahead of other parties, he mentioned.

Awami League Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury chaired the function
while party's central working committee member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin,
Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Agriculture and
Cooperatives Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Health and Population Affairs
Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana were present, among others.

Later, Quader distributed Prime Minister's Eid gifs among distressed and
destitute people through different social and political organizations.