CHATTOGRAM, Jan 16, 2024 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said effort by opposition BNP to obstruct the country’s progress would result in nothing the way vultures curse do not result in deaths of cows.

   “BNP-Jamaat (alliance) is always trying to expose the country to danger,” a statement by the minister’s office quoted him as saying in a media interaction at the port city’s Shah Amanat International Airport.

   He added: “But if a vulture curses a cow to die, it won’t be of any effect. Identically BNP’s malediction won’t cause any harm to the country.”

   According to the statement Mahmud made the comment as the reporters said “BNP-Jamaat wants the US and the European Union to slap sanctions against Bangladesh, closure of the garments industry, people to take to the street, occurrence of a famine and then they will come to power”.  

  Mahmud later was greeted by a massive crowd as he came out of the airport, as he arrived in his maiden visit to his hometown after assuming the charge of the foreign ministry in the new government after the January 7 elections.

   Chattogram Awami League’s north and south district units also staged a joint reception at the scene.

   The minister told the newsmen that a number of foreign election observers representing the US NDI and IRI, European Union, SAARC, OIC and Commonwealth countries came to witness the polls which proved that elections this time drew international attention.

   “They simultaneously expressed their opinion that a free and nice election was held in Bangladesh,” he said.

   Mahmud said compared to other elections voting this time witnessed less violence and “this is the biggest matter”.

   According to the statement as asked for comments on the EU and US poll observers election commission visit to seek polls related data, Mahmud said “our foreign friends have interests about our elections and that is why they went to the election commission”.

  Mahmud said he saw in today’s newspapers that the poll monitors were satisfied with the data provided by Election Commission.

   “You see, with a huge people’s participation a free and fair election was held in Bangladesh amid festivity. Most of the registered political parties took part in this election,” he said.

  The minister said: “You know there were shivering cold and dense fogs on the polling day. That is why the voter turnout stood at nearly 42 percent. More votes would have been cast if the fog and cold were not there.”