It’s unwise to think Myanmar has no powerful friends: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is continuing her efforts to repatriate the Rohingya refugees peacefully, despite instigation of conflict with Myanmar.
“Following a level-headed move by Sheikh Hasina, Myanmar is now experiencing the highest international pressure with regards to repatriation. So, it cannot be termed a ‘diplomatic failure’,” Quader said.
He was speaking at a discussion marking National Mourning Day, organised by BRTC Sramik Karmachari League at Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka.
Quader, also Awami League general secretary, said it is unwise to think that Myanmar has no powerful friends as the country has long been run by an autocratic government.
“The country [Myanmar] has many powerful friends, as evident from economic diplomacy... I think, the diplomacy of our PM is going to be successful as UN along with many European countries are now extending support to us,” he said..
Quader made the remarks two days after the second attempt to begin repatriating the Rohingyas, who fled ethnic cleansing in the Rahkine state of Myanmar in August 2017, failed.
Citing the murder of a Jubo League leader allegedly by a group of Rohingya miscreants in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf on Friday, he said that there is no reason to think that all of them are innocent.
“The situation is under control now,” he claimed.
Quader blamed former president Ziaur Rahman for conspiring the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the grenade attack on an AL rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on August 21, 2004.
Citing various issues, including arrears of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) staff, the minister said that such problems will be solved as early as possible by eliminating corruption from this sector.
He expressed dissatisfaction over speeches of some labour leaders, demanding arrears, at the programme.
BRTC Sramik League acting president Abul Kader chaired the discussion attended by BRTC officials and party activists.
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