DHAKA, Dec 8, 2022 (BSS) - Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that permissions will not be given any more for holding rallies blocking the roads and creating public sufferings.

"No more gatherings will be allowed on streets and blocking the roads and creating public sufferings. We will also not do so (hold rally). The venue for Dhaka (south) city AL rally was south gate of the Stadium on Friday. I asked them to hold the rally at Natyamancha," he said.

The AL general secretary said this in his inaugural speech as he was presiding over a joint meeting of AL and its associate organizations at the party's central office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue here.

AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the meeting virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said the BNP is instigating conflicts centering the December 10 rally and engaged communal and militant forces in that.

They are out to carry out arson terrorism and on Wednesday, they executed their plot of killing people, he said, adding, "Arson terrorism and attacking the police have started. These are happening, which we feared".

Quader said, "If we can change the venue of our rally thinking about the people, why is BNP adamant on their stance? We have known all those conspiracies aimed at creating chaos and toppling the government".

Noting that AL leaders and workers will be on alert from today, he said, "We will not attack and be aggressors, but if any provocation is made for attack, we will respond appropriately, even if they initiate the attack".

Asking the leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies to remain alert everywhere, AL general secretary said, "Leaders and workers of AL and its associate organizations of all districts, upazilas, cities, thanas, municipalities and unions across the country will be on alert from today. We cannot hand over the country to communal forces in this month of victory. This is our promise".

Quader added: "We will not launch any attack without reasons. We are in the government, therefore, we have to deal with calmness and coolness so that we are not blamed for any misdeeds. They (BNP) started as aggressors, we will see it too".

AL presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman and Advocate Md Qamrul Islam, joint general secretaries Mahbubul-Alam Hanif, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Advocate Afzal Hossain and Sakhawat Hossain Shafiq, Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, AL Liberation War Affairs Secretary Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Agriculture and Co-operative Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed, Forestry and Environmental Affairs Secretary Delwar Hossain, Finance and Planning Affairs Secretary Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Women Affairs Secretary Jahanara Begum, Education and Human Resource Affairs Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan and Central Working Committee members Anwar Hossain, Sahabuddin Farazi and Syed Abdul Awal Shamim joined the meeting.

Dhaka City North AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman and General Secretary SM Mannan Kachi, Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmad Mannafi and General Secretary Humayun Kabir, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Krishak League President Samir Chanda and General Secretary Umme Kulsum Smirity, Swechasebak League acting President Gazi Mesbaul Hossain Sachchu and General Secretary Afzalur Rahman and Mahila AL President Maher Afroz Chumki were present at the meeting.