We don’t do politics to appease foreign masters: Quader

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said unlike BNP, the AL or Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not do politics to satisfy foreign masters.

"Sheikh Hasina-led government is joining BRICS (alliance) for the welfare of the people. Neither Awami League nor Sheikh Hasina does politics to appease foreign masters as BNP does. Awami League does politics for the betterment of the people," he said.

The minister said this in a statement sent to the media condemning the "politically motivated and misleading statements made by BNP leaders".

Quader said the statement of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul about joining the BRICS is nothing but an expression of his ignorance.

"India and Africa are among the founders of the BRICS Bank. It maintains close ties with the west (western countries). Bangladesh recently received financial support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB)," he added.

He also said BNP has maintained close relations with Jamaat-e-Islam since its inception.

After the 2001 election, BNP united with Jamaat to form the government and destroyed the spirit of Bangladesh's Liberation War, he added.

Khaleda Zia waged movement to stop the trial of war criminals, including the top leader of Jamaat, during the trial of war crimes, he said.

Jamaat became a poisonous tree in Bangladesh under the patronage of BNP, he said, adding that only the conscious people of Bangladesh know that "Jamaat is the B-team of BNP."

He further said that it was not so long ago that BNP created the history of vandalising and setting fire to the houses of minorities for the "offense" of not voting for the party.

Besides, arson attacks in the name of hartal, killing innocent people by hurling petrol bombs, cutting trees and burning land offices were also carried out by BNP men, he added.

Quader said people of the country have not forgotten the violence of BNP.