Terming the legal notice served on him—by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman—as a political stunt, state minister for law, advocate Qamrul Islam, on Wednesday, reiterated that what he had said was true. “If I have told a lie, it’s their duty to prove it false, and, for that, they would have to come [back].” Urging BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s two sons—Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko—to come back to country to face trial, the state minister said if Tarique and Koko don’t come back, the law would take its own course.
“Hartals can’t stop bringing back Tarique and Koko from abroad,” the minister said, while talking to reporters, after a meeting of the party in front of the Awami League office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Acting president of Dhaka City AL, MA Aziz, general secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, vice-president Mukul Chowdhury, joint general secretary Hazi Mohammad Selim, organising secretary Shahe Alam Murad, publicity and publications secretary Abdul Haque Sobuj, and office secretary Shahidul Islam Milon were present on the occasion.
The state minister called the BNP to join Parliament, shunning the politics of violence in the name of movement, and place their demands there, saying, “Only dialogue could solve the political impasse.”
Meanwhile, communications minister Obaidul Quader said hartals destroy national economy and prospects of future generation.
“I would implore the opposition parties not to destroy the national economy, properties, motor vehicles and prospects of future generation, in the name of hartal,” he said as the chief guest, while inaugurating a training programme at the BRTA conference room in the capital, on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) had arranged the training programme for professional drivers, to increase their experience and awareness.
The minister urged the opposition not to destroy prospects of the future generation, by enforcing hartals during the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination.
“Shutdown, setting fire to vehicles, or killing transport workers, will not lead the country towards the path of progress, and hartals have never played any significant role in taking down any government,” he said.
-With The Independent input
