Fakhrul’s heart is craving for power: Obaidul Quader

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday urged the people to keep trust in the leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina to tackle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reports news agency BSS.

He made the call while speaking at a virtual press briefing from his official residence in the capital.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said: “If New Zealand and Vietnam can tackle the coronavirus pandemic, why will we not be able to address it?”

He said the government is facing two challenges right now – containing the spread of coronavirus and ensuring treatment for the COVID-19 patients, and protecting the poor and destitute people.

Despite having some limitations, he said, the government is sincerely working to address the challenges and the country’s people have trust in it too.

Coming down heavily on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for criticising the government amid the coronavirus crisis, Quader urged the party leaders not to beat about the bush to hide the truth for ill-political gains.

He said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that their leaders and workers were randomly being arrested in fabricated cases across the country, which is not true at all.

“Where are the BNP leaders and workers being arrested and sued? Give us the actual list of this,” he added.

The AL general secretary further said Fakhrul is power-hungry and his heart is craving for power.

He said the government’s sense of responsibility to the country’s people is making the BNP leaders intolerant.

Quader said now the main task of Awami League is to tackle the invisible enemy. “We will be able to tackle the coronavirus crisis with the combined efforts of all, In-sha Allah.”

He also said a vested quarter is intentionally spreading rumours and propaganda against the government through social media and these rumours are more dangerous than coronavirus.