US visa policy should be applied to BNP, believes Quader

Staff reporter  :
The ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader expressed his concern over the BNP’s sit-in programme, which blocked the entrances of Dhaka, calling it an obstacle to free and fair elections.
He proposed that the visa policy should be applied to BNP for launching such hindering programmes before the national election.

Quader made these statements during a view-exchange meeting with journalists at the conference room of Road Transport and Highways Division at the Secretariat on Monday.

Obaidul Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister questioned the nature of BNP’s actions and claimed that their intention is to cause harm, citing a video speech from Tarique Rahman in London, where he allegedly mentioned retaliation murders.

He further highlighted that it is the police’s responsibility to ensure the safety of people’s lives, properties, and smooth movement, and questioned the attacks on the police.

In contrast, Quader emphasised that Awami League seeks a peaceful environment before and after the elections, while BNP’s main goal appears to be removing Sheikh Hasina from power at any cost. Quader assured that Awami League will not engage in conflicts but will remain vigilant until the elections.

Speaking over the upcoming parliamentary elections, Quader said that no foreign ambassador had requested a caretaker government, nor mentioned dissolving parliament or Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. All foreign ambassadors share a common demand for a peaceful election.

Quader assured that they are committed to being held accountable if the election doesn’t achieve peace for their party, and likewise, others would be accountable if peace is not ensured for them.

Quader has also defended spreading of a video showing opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy having lunch at the office of detective branch (DB) of police and he didn’t see any wrong with it.