DHAKA, Jan 31, 2024 (BSS) - Claiming that the BNP's black flag procession is illegal, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said the government will not sit idle if the BNP's "freestyle programmes" are held on the city streets without taking permission.

"The police did not give (BNP) permission. There is no scope to give permission to hold freestyle programmes. There is no reason to think that they will hold freestyle programmes on the streets without taking permission and we will allow it," he said.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks at a press conference at the AL President's Dhanmondi political office here today.

He said there is no public support to the BNP's black flag programme. "After BNP failed in movement, it plunged into despair," he added.

Responding to a statement of Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader that the current parliament is not a balanced one, he questioned, "If the parliament is not functional, why did GM Quader come?"

Obaidul Quader said none, not even the United States, called the 12th general election flawed, while US Ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas greeted, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the polls results.

"He (Hass) met some ministers, including the foreign minister. What does it mean?' Our election was not flawed. Everyone showed interest in working together," he said.

About the price hike of essential commodities, the road transport minister said the government has apparently undertaken plans to check the price hike of commodities while the prime minister has given necessary instructions to the ministries concerned in this regard.

"Work has started accordingly. All things will not be controlled overnight...the government is taking actions. Actions will be taken against whoever violates the law," he said.

About the AL's nomination for the reserved seats for women in the House, Quader said the Awami League will give importance and priority to the tested leaders.

AL Organising Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Sujit Roy Nandi, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Office Secretary Biplab Barua, and AL central committee members Sahabuddin Faraji and Marufa Akhtar Popi, among others, were present at the press conference.