Quader urges students not to fall into 'instigation trap'

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday urged students not to fall into any “instigation trap”.

“After failing to ride the quota reform demos, BNP and the fundamentalist forces are depending on the students and they want to instigate them,” he told newsmen after a joint meeting of Awami League Presidium, presidents and secretaries of Dhaka north and south units of AL and other associated bodies at the AL office.

Quader said the government has accepted all the demands of the agitating students.

“We are seeking cooperation from the heads of all educational institutions, member of the governing bodies and the guardians to bring back discipline on the roads,” he added.

At the same time, the AL general secretary urged the teachers and guardians to take the students back to homes and educational institutes.

The AL leader also urged party leaders and activists to have patience and face the present situation with caution.

“The government has accepted all the demands of the students to avoid any untoward situation and mitigate people's sufferings,” added the minister.

He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is looking into the demands put forward by the students.

A draft act will be finalised in the cabinet meeting on Monday and it will be placed in the next parliament session for enactment to ensure safety and discipline on the roads.

“The slogans being chanted by children against the government are not decent,” said the minister, adding that some quarters with vested interest are now at play.

AL joint general secretaries Mahabub-Ul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni and Jahangir Kabir Nanak; Awami League leaders AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Habibur Rahman Siraj, Akhtaruzzaman; Dhaka city north-south leaders including Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon, among others, attended the meeting.