Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, 'Attorney Abdus Sattar, who resigned from the post of Member of Parliament of Brahmanbaria-2 constituency on the instructions of BNP, left BNP and participated in the by-election as an independent candidate. This proves that many leaders of BNP's front line are election-oriented, they want to be elected.
The minister said, 'This also indicates that even if the BNP decides to boycott elections in the future, their leaders will participate in the elections. Their leaders cannot be prevented from participating in the elections. They will participate in the election.'
The minister made this comment in response to a question during an exchange of views with journalists at the official residence on Minto Road in the capital on Friday.
Dr Hasan said, 'BNP's decision comes from across the sea. Their 'that' leader has no idea about the reality and situation of Bangladesh. He has been out of the country for 15-16 years. I personally think the resignation of six BNP MPs from Parliament was a very short-sighted decision by the party.'
"Many BNP leaders feel that the attempt to resist the 2014 election by not participating was a complete mistake," the information and broadcasting minister said, "They should participate in the 2018 election as well, without wavering, not partially, but with full strength." It was needed this time, the resignation of their six MPs, the leaders of the front row think that it has been imposed on them. This resignation did not bode well for BNP. I personally think so too.'
In response to the Gaibandha by-election, the Joint General Secretary of Awami League said, 'The Election Commission is also claiming that the Gaibandha by-election has been very successful. We also saw a very fair and beautiful election. Voter turnout has decreased slightly due to severe winter and once again polling did not yield the desired results. Awami League's candidate won with a large number of votes. It has been proved that if the election had not been postponed earlier, the boat candidate would have won with a large number of votes.
A part of Awami League wants to establish a reign of terror to usurp state power - In response to BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain's comments, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said, 'Actually, BNP has established a reign of terror. They do politics based on terror. Until now they said that Awami League wants to ax power. Now says a part again!'
He said, 'Awami League has formed the government with the mandate of the people and is running the country. As long as the people want, we will run the country. I will not govern the country for a single day if the people do not want it. BNPE always wants to come to power through the back door.'
Earlier, on the occasion of the government's four-year anniversary, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said, 'In 2022, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the nation two gifts. One is the launch of the Padma Bridge, another is the launch of the dream Metrorail. Every person in the country is excited about it.'
At the same time, he said, 'If BNP and its allies did not have the politics of spreading negative and rumors, the country would have progressed much further.'
The joint general secretary of Awami League said, 'Congratulations toPM Sheikh Hasina for taking the country forward by confronting the global crisis, various conspiracies and all the negative aspects. And if the BNP did not do the politics of conspiracy against the country by misleading the people, the politics of trampling foreigners, then the country would have progressed much further.'
Broadcasting Minister said, 'The current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is completing four years. At the same time, the Awami League government is completing 14 consecutive years. In the past year, there were many global crises including the Corona epidemic, Russia-Ukraine war. Despite this, Bangabandhukanya has continued the development and progress of the country.
Hasan Mahmud said that since the beginning of the Corona epidemic in 2020 till 2022, the world community has praised the way the Prime Minister has dealt with the Corona epidemic. The joint survey by Nikkei Institute and Bloomberg says that Bangladesh ranks fifth in the world and first in South Asia in dealing with the Corona epidemic.
The information minister said, 'Despite the global crisis and price inflation, the price of goods in Bangladesh has been kept at a tolerable level in many cases compared to other countries. Our inflation is lower than in Europe and many developed countries. In December, we received record amount of remittances, increased export earnings. Export income has increased in the last few months as well.'
Accusing BNP of negative politics, Dr Hasan said, 'People should be sacrificed on Padma Bridge - such rumors were also spread. When 132 countries of the world could not start coronavirus vaccination, Sheikh Hasina started corona vaccination in our country. Even then, there were many confusions spread by BNP and their allies, later they took the vaccination, some openly, some secretly.'
