The ruling Awami League general secretary, Obaidul Quader, warned the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday that they would counter violence with violence as the two parties were set to hold rallies on October 28 in Dhaka.
‘As they [BNP] said that they would take revenge and create resistance, it means that they want to create violence. The answer to violence is not silence. The answer to violence is violence,’ said Quader, also road transport and bridges minister.
He was responding to a journalist in a press briefing at Setu Bhaban in the city on the inauguration of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in Chattogram, scheduled for October 28.
‘A district leader of the BNP said that they wanted to send Sheikh Hasina to the grave. I want to know whether sending Sheikh Hasina to the grave is their last wish,’ he questioned.
He claimed that AL never attacked any BNP rallies.
Asked about why AL was announcing programmes on the same date after the announcement of the BNP, he said that AL announced programmes to protect people’s lives and property as the BNP committed violence in 2014 and 2015.
‘AL is not facing any pressure,’ said Quader, replying to another question about whether AL was facing any pressure from foreigners’ activities and the BNP’s movement.
He claimed the United States ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, sought time from him to hold a meeting on October 29.
‘US ambassador Peter has sought time from me to hold a meeting on October 29. I have not confirmed the meeting yet,’ the AL general secretary said.
Asked about Wednesday night’s meeting with a group of leaders of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the ruling Awami League with the US ambassador, Quader said that he came to know about the meeting through media reports.
‘It might be a private meeting. As the general secretary of the party, I was not aware of the meeting,’ he added.
He also said that prime minister Sheikh Hasina was scheduled to inaugurate the tunnel on October 28 at Patenga point.
The tunnel will be opened for traffic movement on October 29.
‘A mass rally will also take place at the EPZ field under the Anwara upazila of Chattogram. The PM will also address the rally as well,’ he added.
New Age
