No one to be spared for rape: Quader

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the Jatiya Oikya Front should reconsider their decision to refrain from taking oath, reports UNB.

"Those elected in the parliamentary elections are elected in people's votes. We expect, they'll show respect to people's mandate. If they don't join the oath-taking ceremony, it'll be the manifestation of negligence to people's mandate," he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the secretariat.

Referring to the incident of gang-rape of a woman at Charjubli in Subarnachar upazila in Noakhali, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said, "No one will be spared whoever be the culprits."

"I've heard about the incident. It didn't take place in my constituency but in Noakhali. However, such incident is not acceptable. The culprit must be punished. No one of those who're guilty will be spared. I know the attitude of our leader," he added.

"Already, I talked to the inspector general of police. The deputy inspector general of police (DIG) also visited the spot. The government will take a strong stance against the culprits over this incident," he added.

Responding to a question about the arrest of a journalist in Khulna, he said he is yet to know about that.

Responding to another question about the size of the new cabinet, the minister said, "We've no idea about it. The prime minister will decide."

In response to a question on how Awami League secured win in all the constituencies in Noakhali though it is a BNP stronghold, Quader said once there was organisational weakness of his party in the region and after he took charge as the general secretary of AL, the party successfully overcame it.

If Jatiya Oikya Front tries to unleash any violence in the name of movement that will be handled with an iron hand, he said.