DHAKA, July 29, 2021 (BSS) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said falsehood is the BNP's only resort to cover up its failure in playing due role during the coronavirus crisis.

    “The BNP leaders are continuously lying against the government to hide their inability to stand by the country’s people,” he told a function at the AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office here.

    The AL Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee arranged the function to distribute the COVID-19 safety products among the representatives of different agencies.

    Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said there are so many political parties in Bangladesh but only the ruling Awami League is standing by the destitute people at the field level.

    One party is giving lip service staying home but people do not want its lip service now, he said.

    He said the people consider the AL as their friend durig crisis since the AL men stand by the commoners with whatever they have.

Noting that the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is being lauded around the world, Quader said the developed countries are now giving importance to Bangladesh due to the bold and visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Coming down heavily on the BNP for conducting propaganda over the COVID-19 vaccines, he said the BNP is continuously making falsehood over the coronavirus vaccines.  

The amount of vaccines required in Bangladesh will come from different countries in phases and there will be no vaccine crisis here, the AL general secretary said.

Calling upon all to wear masks to prevent coronavirus, he said the using masks is more effective than inoculation and that is why people must be encouraged to wear masks across the country. “The forts of awareness should be built at household level,” he added.

Replying a question about the alleged graft of lawmakers and ministers, Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is running the government maintaining cent percent honesty and transparency, while her government's stance against irregularities and corruption is very strict and clear.

“None, including the MPs and ministers, is above accountability. The ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) as an independent watchdog can take action against any sort of graft after conducting a probe,” he said.

The road transport minister said the national anti-graft agency has already taken actions against many AL leaders and MPs, while the government does not move forward to protect them.  

He said the government never interferes in the activities of the ACC in taking action against corruption and irregularities.

“We should not have any objection in submitting our wealth statements. I am also ready to submit my wealth statement,” Quader said.

Chaired by AL presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, the meeting was addressed, among others, by AL presidium member Abdur Rahman, its organising secretary SM Kamal Hossain, relief and social welfare secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, central committee members Reazul Kabir Kawsar and Syed Abdul Awal Shamim, Umme Kulsum Smriti, MP, president of the Institution Of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) MA Hamid and its general secretary Shamsur Rahman.