DHAKA, April 8, 2024 (BSS) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said BNP has no responsibility towards the country's democracy rather the party is the main obstacle to implement the democratic norms here.

"When killers of democracy talk about democracy, then it should be understood that they have different purpose. This is nothing but their crocodile tears for democracy. BNP has no responsibility towards democracy," he said in a statement.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said such outcry of BNP for democracy is to push back the country towards the misrule of Tarique Rahman, who is the mastermind of August 21 grenade attack, kingpin of "Hawa-Khwab Bhaban" and key player of corruption, terrorism and criminalization.

Today the democracy-loving people of this country are united against the evil force, he said.

The AL general secretary said BNP, which was born at the hands of dictator, is carrying out ill-attempts to destroy the spirit and values of Liberation War and democracy as well under an orchestrated plan.

He said BNP leaders should have sought unconditional pardon from the nation for their undemocratic activities. But without doing so, they are making their traditional ill-motivated comments, he added.
 
The minister said BNP founder cruel military dictator Ziaur Rahman had seized the state power down the barrel of a gun.

Ziaur Rahman forced President Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem to resign at gunpoint and became the President of Bangladesh, he said.

Quader said Zia had ruined the country's democratic values and election system in the name of farcical elections of "Yes-No" vote in 1977.

Following the footprints of Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khaleda Zia held farcical elections on February 15 in 1996, he said.

"She (Khaleda) gifted the nation Mirpur and Magura types rigged by-elections," he said.

BNP formed Aziz-type Election Commission and created voter's list of 1.23 crore fake voters to seize the state power through election manipulation, Quader said.
The AL general secretary said BNP had set a worst example of repression and torture on leaders and workers of opposition party in the name of "Operation Clean Heart".

During the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government in the post 2001 period, as many as 21,000 leaders and workers of Awami League were killed, Quader said.