Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the quota and pension movement should be monitored carefully, “The movement to cancel student quota is going on. Besides, the teachers are holding a movement and program regarding pension. We are carefully monitoring these two programs.
He said, ‘Everything will be resolved in time.’
He said this at a joint meeting organized at the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
In response to the question whether Awami League is on the side of the government or the court, the Awami League general secretary said, ‘The government is on the side of the government, and the Awami League is also on the side of the government. Students are protesting to demand reform of quota. Apart from this, the movement and strike of the teachers’ society is also going on regarding the pension. We are monitoring the progress of these two programs very carefully. As far as I know, the anti-quota movement students are doing for reforms – they have no scheduled program today, I thank them.’
He said, ‘I also heard that they have appointed a lawyer on their behalf in the case in the High Court and they will appear in the court on time. It is a logical decision. Thank you for that.’
In response to the question of when you were supposed to formally sit with the protesting teachers, he said, ‘Did we say that we will sit in a formal meeting?’
In response to what the teachers said to the journalists, he said, ‘What they said now is not a matter for us to see.’
Obaidul Quader said, ‘We may also have difficulties. We are not disrespecting them in any way. We are monitoring their movements. We hope it will be resolved in time.’
He said, ‘August is the month of mourning again. We have a month-long program starting August 1. Calling for the implementation of this month’s program with all seriousness. Those who will take the program in Dhaka, they will do it in accordance with the central program.
In response to a question, Obaidul Quader said, ‘The reason is legal, not political. BNP finds political smell in everything. They didn’t even fight the legal battle properly. Months, even years passed, he was not allowed to appear in court, not even sought bail. They failed in the legal battle. We do not even have evidence that a visible protest march was held for Khaleda Zia in this city.’
In response to the question that BNP says that the Prime Minister has gone to China with a begging basket, the bridge minister said, ‘Their Finance Minister Saifur Rahman repeatedly rushed to the Paris Consortium meeting with the begging basket, none of our finance ministers knew about the Paris Consortium meeting. Didn’t even know before the budget.’
Stating the position of Awami League, the bridge minister said, ‘Our position is clear, the Prime Minister issued a circular in 2018 and decided to exempt quotas, according to which government activities have been conducted so far. In the meantime, seven of the freedom fighter’s children filed a case. The High Court passed a judgment against which the government appealed to the Appellate Division as per rules. We hope that the full court hearing will be held soon.’
Stating that the movement is not against quota, but for quota reform, he said, ‘The position of the government is clear. Those who are protesting, our various media are calling this protest an anti-quota movement, but what they are saying is that they want quota reforms.
Awami League presidium members Kamrul Islam, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nashim, Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Biplab Barua. , International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed and Deputy Secretary Sayem Khan were present.