Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP always speaks about establishing democracy in the country but the party does not practice it (democracy) within the party.
“BNP only speaks about democracy . . . but it has no practice inside the party,” Quader told journalists in a regular virtual briefing on the different contemporary issues at his official residence in the capital on Wednesday.
He said, “The BNP has failed to hold its councils at grassroots level . . . It is ridiculous as the party which has no democracy will establish democracy in the country.”
Quader mentioned that the Awami League as a party is ahead of any other political parties across the country in terms of practicing internal democracy.
“How can an anti-election party talk about democracy?” the AL general secretary questioned BNP leaders.
Criticizing the resignation of BNP secretary general after being elected in the last Jatiya Sangsad by-polls, Quader said, “What kind of democracy it is as a party whose secretary general resigns after being elected by popular vote, when their party is in the House?”
The senior AL leader added: "Democracy is a process, not a matter of one day or one year, it is a long process. The democratic journey continues through the sincere cooperation and practice of the government as well as the opposition.”
Obaidul Quader said the Awami League under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been playing a leading role in the development and progress of democracy countrywide. Sheikh Hasina has restored the spirit of Liberation War and democratic values, he added. The AL minister said Sheikh Hasina has shown the courage to correct the mistakes. He said overcoming many obstacles on the way of development of democracy, Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has continued her untiring efforts.
No matter how the BNP makes imaginary allegations, it is not the government but the BNP that has narrowed the path to the development of democracy, observed Obaidul Quader.
In fact, the BNP is infected with the virus of blaming the government for everything without seeing their own crimes, AL general secretary added.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader opened 12 bridges built under the Barisal Road Zone. At the same time, he said, work on several important bridges under the Barisal zone is underway and some work are at the final stages.
Obaidul Quader also said that the work of the Lebukhali bridge is at the final stage and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the bridge any time next month.
The 12 bridges constructed under different road divisions of the Barisal Zone are: Babuganj Bridge on Rahmatpur-Babuganj-Muladi-Hijla Road, Khasher Hat Bridge, Nawab Hat Bridge, Kauria Bridge and Khunna Bridge, Gurudham Bridge on Barisal-Jhalokati-Pirojpur Road, Tafser Ferry Bridge on Kathalia-Banaighat Road, Banglaba Bridge on Bhola-Borhanuddin-Lalmohan-Charfashion Road, Debirchar - Nazurpur - Lalmohan - Tajumuddin road Debirchar bridge, Charkhali - Tuskhali - Mathbaria - Patharthata road Hetalia bridge and Madarsi bridge.