Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday described the study report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on good governance in facing coronavirus as partial and politically motivated.

"TIB's study is partial and it is more political than research-oriented," Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, told a press briefing at his official residence on parliament premises.

Mentioning that the study was carried out in a negative perspective, the minister said it stated about Digital Security Act and withdrawal of all cases filed for harassment while giving recommendations on what to do to tackle Covid-19.

Quader said the researchers dubbed the TIB report as a political report instead of calling it a study.

About irregularities in health sector mentioned in the TIB report, the minister said, "The government has taken actions against all sorts of irregularities and misdeeds and is bringing all offenders to justice in a self-motivated way not on recommendation or demand of any agency, organisation or party."

Mentioning the government's stance against corruption, he said if TIB gives a list by specifying where irregularities and corruption are taking place, the government would take actions.

Quader said the outbreak of coronavirus is a new experience for the entire world while the developed nations have been facing severe troubles to tackle the pandemic. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh did better in facing the pandemic, following suggestions of the experts, he said.

The minister said the government is taking preparations to face the probable second wave of the pandemic. When the world community is lauding the measures of the government in facing the pandemic, TIB researchers did not find a minimum positive initiative of the government, he said, adding that this act of the TIB is unfortunate.

Quader said the rising questions in people's mind about the purpose of conducting the study is quite natural. "People think that the research was not conducted under specific structure of social science research rather it was conducted on politically-motivated or other purposes," he said.

The AL general secretary said his party has contributions to each and every achievement of the nation as AL always played strong and courageous role in realising people's rights.

AL leaders and workers took to streets to wage struggles and movements against autocratic rules while many of them embraced martyrdom for the sake of the country, he added.

Pointing to BNP, he said the party did not do anything for distressed people during the pandemic. As AL leaders and workers stayed beside people, they were infected more by the deadly virus and many have died, he added.