DHAKA, June 25, 2024 (BSS) - Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP leaders are doing politics over the illness of Begum Khaleda Zia.
 
 BNP leaders have unnecessarily delayed the trial of the cases of convicted Begum Khaleda Zia, he said while replying to a query of reporters after a board meeting of Bangladesh Bridge Authority at its Bhaban in city’s Banani.
 
Quader said BNP leaders, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, talk much, but they didn’t wage even any visible movement over Begum Zia issue. In fact, they are doing politics over the health issue of Begum Zia, he added.
 
The AL general secretary said the then caretaker government filed cases against Begum Khaleda Zia. “Even a case was filed against our leader and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But they didn’t get anything against her (Sheikh Hasina) after investigation,” he said.
 
 On the other hand, he said, Begum Zia was not present before the court for long which delayed the trial process.
 
Rejecting comments of BNP leaders, Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown her unprecedented generosity to Begum Zia giving her release from jail and she is now taking treatment outside the jail. “She is also staying at her residence. Why will we kill her?” he added.
 
He said BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman had begun the politics of killing. “BNP is the mastermind of August 15, November 3 and August 21 carnages. They started the politics of killing and conspiracies. And we are victims of their evil politics and conspiracies. We didn’t kill anyone and didn’t do any conspiracy,” he said.
 
About the board meeting, Quader said about 1.27 crore vehicles have crossed the Padma Bridge till now and Taka 1648 crore has been realized as toll.
 
 Taka 948 crore has been paid to the Finance Division till the sixth installment. Besides, cheques for Taka 314 crore will be given to the Finance Division by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on June 27 as seventh and eighth installments, he added.