General Secretary of Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader commented that the protesting students are showing strength against the Supreme Court. He said that it is completely illegal to obstruct the movement of people and vehicles in the name of agitation. But the agitators are holding a lot of public life hostage and showing their strength against the Supreme Court without going through the legal process, which is totally unintended.
Obaidul Quader said these things in a press conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s political office in Dhanmondi on Thursday.
He said that as per the government circular of 2018, no quota has been reserved in the government recruitment at the moment as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has given a stay of four weeks regarding the reform of the quota. The Appellate Division will finally dispose of the matter subject to hearing.
The bridge minister said that in the last five years, due to the lack of quota, women have fallen behind. Minority groups are the worst affected. Quota is important in building a diverse and egalitarian state system. Quotas are not discrimination. Rather, quotas are needed in some cases to eliminate discrimination.
Obaidul Quader said that some parties including BNP have supported this movement. Leaving behind the failure of their own movement and putting the students in a political trap, they are taking steps to start a new movement. BNP wants to turn the anti-quota movement into an anti-government movement.
He also said that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul said that there is no need for freedom fighter quota. Through this, they have once again proved that BNP is against the liberation war. They have no respect for the liberation war and freedom fighters. There is no reason to think that BNP believes in the spirit of liberation.
Awami League General Secretary said, “We have noticed with great concern that while the judicial process is going on, the agitators are causing trouble to people in the name of the so-called ‘Bangla Blockade’ program without respecting it. Trying to disrupt the normal life of people.
Obaidul Quader also said that some quarters are inciting young students to pursue their political interests. It is conspiring to disrupt economic activities by creating instability in the country. If someone wants to trap this anti-quota non-political movement in a political trap, we will deal with it politically. Everyone should be careful about this.
The minister said, we respect the energy and passion of youth. But if any evil faction wants to capitalize on this energy and passion to create anarchy and instability in the country, the government must take action according to the law. Those who want to turn the quota movement into an anti-government movement, will not allow their wish to be fulfilled.
Obaidul Quader said that the highest court of the country is the guardian of the constitution. Court should be respected. Everyone should respect the important institutions of the state and stop the politics of force. Politics of creating public suffering should be avoided.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Afam Bahauddin Nashim, Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, Advocate Afzal Hossain, Liberation War Secretary Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua were also present in the press conference. , Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Deputy Secretary Advocate Sayem Khan, Central Executive Member Sahabuddin Faraji, Anwar Hossain, President of Krishak League Sameer Chand and others.