‘We will show what a public gathering is’

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said BNP will be shown what a real public gathering looks like.

He said this while speaking at a press briefing at his official residence.

Responding to a statement of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Quader said in some rallies, BNP was not able to gather even one lakh people despite targeting 10 lakh.

"Huge public gatherings were seen at the Awami League's ward and thana-level conferences in the city, which were also reported in the media," said the AL general secretary.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said there is a constitutional body -- the Election Commission (EC) -- in the country, and the polls will be held on time under the EC, while the government will only cooperate with the commission as is the norm in other democratic countries.

Replying to another statement of Fakhrul over the country's foreign reserve, Quader said the foreign reserve increased to USD 48 billion during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure.

Due to the ongoing global crisis, the reserve came down to USD 36 billion from USD 48 billion, he said, adding that the whole world, including Bangladesh, has been facing this crisis.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said Bangladesh had become a "world champion in corruption" during BNP's tenure.

He made the remarks while exchanging views with journalists at his Minto Road official residence.

Asked about the transport strikes before BNP's Rangpur, Barishal and Khulna rallies, the minister said transport owners and workers know BNP very well, as it carried out arson attacks on vehicles and killed innocent people by hurling petrol bombs.

He also said pro-BNP transport owners unitedly called the strikes, so that they don't become the victims of BNP's ill politics.