AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader. File Photo
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has condemned and protested attacks on general students and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) during the quota reform movement.
“A section of these protesters are speaking in favour of the razakars. It is clear that BNP-Jamaat is behind it,” he said today at a press conference at the Awami League President's office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.
He made it clear that any movement targeting the country’s independence and Liberation War will be resisted. He said that patience does not mean silence.
“There is a conspiratorial group behind the quota movement. In the past, BNP tried to reap the benefits of the movement by relying on the street protests. They committed arson terrorism. But they did not get a response to their movement. They were defeated by the strong stance of the people,” said the Al leader.
“Tarique Rahman has gotten involved in the quota reform movement. His party, BNP, has openly supported it. They are plotting to turn a non-political issue into a political movement. They are distorting the Prime Minister’s remarks on the quota issue to mislead the public. The Prime Minister did not call those involved in the quota movement ‘razakar’,” he added.
“BNP-Jamaat activists are forcing students to join the quota movement. Yesterday, they attacked general students and the Chhatra League without any provocation. At least 500 leaders and activists of Chhatra League were injured, and two leaders were shot. They are spreading false pictures of various Chhatra League leaders on different pages for propaganda,” added the minister.
The AL general secretary said that the issue of quota reform is a matter for the court. There is no way or opportunity to decide on this matter through force or any other means outside the court.
Quader also condemned the statement made by US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. He commented that they should look at themselves in the mirror before talking about the democracy of other countries.
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