DHAKA, Sept 28, 2022 (BSS) – Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said that BNP will be given befitting reply if they take to the streets with sticks hanging the national flag.

“None will be allowed to play with sticks and fire,” he said at a discussion, marking AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 76th birthday at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city.

AL Presidium Member Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over the discussion. 

Presidium members Dr Md Abdur Razzque, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shajahan Khan, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, and Abdur Rahman, joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque and Advocate Afzal Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Labor and Manpower Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Office Secretary Biplab Barua and Women Affairs Secretary Maher Afroz Chumki, Dhaka City North AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmad Mannafi were present at the event, among others.

AL Deputy Publicity and Publishing Secretary Aminul Islam conducted the discussion.

Quoting Zafrullah Chowdhury about his remarks about BNP’s stick dependent politics, Quader said, “Politically disabled BNP is now depending on sticks. I am not saying this rather Zafrullah Chowdhury made the comment”.

Noting that the stick had gone from politics, but BNP has brought back it, the AL general secretary said, “Hanging the national flag with sticks, BNP is threatening that the sticks would be much longer. What audacity they are showing? We will reply to that”.

Noting that the streets have not been given lease to anyone, Quader said, “AL is on the streets. The streets are not anyone's ancestral property. We will take to the streets for the people and for our development. Will you occupy the streets? We are waiting to see you”.

Anticipating that the ruling AL will win the next parliament election again, he said, “Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, we are once again nearer to victory”.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has become digital following her (Sheikh Hasina) Digital Bangladesh Vision, the AL general secretary said now the vision is to transform the country into ‘Smart Bangladesh’.

Since BNP knows that they could not defeat Sheikh Hasina through polls, he said, they choose they way of conspiracy.

Noting that Sheikh Hasina returned to the country being elected as the AL president after six years of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman killing, Quader said returning to the country, she make the democracy free.

It has been possible to hold trials of war criminals and Bangabandhu murder as she returned to the country and subsequently the process of development had started in the country, he added.