BANGLADESH

New Delhi gives all that Dhaka sought, says Obaidul Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said India has given all that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought to the neighbouring country for the welfare of the people and address the ongoing global crisis.

“India has given all the things what we wanted. Sheikh Hasina did not forget Teesta (issue). There is an objection from West Bengal,” he told a dialogue arranged by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum (BSRF) here.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said it is expected that the Teesta water sharing pact will be signed soon and there is no reason to get frustrated.

Responding to the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement on the prime minister’s visit to India, he said: “You (BNP) had built a wall with India and we dismantled it”.

“No country exchanged its enclaves so peacefully. You forget to speak the truth. We want friendship with India. If friendship remains, the problems will be resolved,” he added.

Replying to a question, Quader said there are no norms that the foreign minister will always accompany the prime minister during her visit.

“The foreign minister will not always accompany the premier. A person may fall sick. He somewhat feels sick,” he said.

About Fakhrul’s allegation that Sheikh Hasina is returning home empty-handed from India, the AL general secretary said Bangladesh signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with India.

He said Bangladesh has got everything from India to protect its people from the ongoing crisis.

“The Teesta water treaty was not concluded but the Kushiyara agreement was signed. Maybe the Teesta deal will be signed in the near future,” he added.

About the Rohingya issue, Quader said Bangladesh has sought cooperation from India to resolves the problem and hoped that India would remain beside its neighbour in Rohingya repatriation.

Regarding the use of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next national elections, he said the AL had demanded the EVM use in the last general elections as well and it wants the same in the next elections.

“But, for the sake of fair and neutral elections, the decision taken by the Election Commission (EC) is final. What the EC will decide is under its jurisdiction,” the AL general secretary said.

About the age-limit of politicians, he said there should not be an age-limit for politicians.

Mentioning that the responsibility of many mega projects were bestowed upon him during the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regimes, Quader said there were many obstacles to the construction of Padma Bridge.

“Many got frustrated. But I went there (Padma Bridge site) on the day of Eid to encourage those who worked there,” he said.

The road transport and bridges minister said there are 27 more small, large and medium projects awaiting inauguration.

The metro rail work up to Motijheel will be completed by December 2023, he said.

Quader said two tubes of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel are likely to be inaugurated in October and November next.

“The tunnel has two tubes – the first one will be opened in October while the second one in November. The prime minister is expected to open both the tubes of the tunnel,” he said.

Noting that works continue to prevent road accidents by identifying the problems of the country’s roads and highways, the minister said the government has given emphasis on ensuring road safety.

“Motorcycles have become a new nuisance causing accidents. Road safety is now a major concern. The number of accidents is low but death rate is high. The assistance of the World Bank has been sought to this end,” he added.

About BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the AL general secretary said she has been out of jail because of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s generosity.

“As there is no democracy in the party (BNP), the word of democracy does not suit them (BNP leaders), he added.

BSRF president Tapan Biswas presided over the dialogue while its general secretary Masudul Haque was present, among others.

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