Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has been working constantly to build a toxic-free state structure.
"The government is not making the state-structure toxic rather it is working incessantly to build a toxic-free country," he said in a statement protesting against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's recent "misleading comments".
Quader said BNP, which was born at the hands of military dictator Ziaur Rahman who seized the state power through the barrel of gun, had poisoned the state-structure by staying in power for a long time. The state and society are still bearing the brunt, he added.
The minister said BNP, in the name of politics, established and nurtured the anti-liberation forces and the ideology against the spirit of Liberation War everywhere.
In the course of time, BNP has become a poisonous tree, he said.
He said the government led by Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to build a non-communal, progressive, developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh after rooting out the poisonous tree.
The AL general secretary said Mirza Fakhrul ascertained his stance against the independence by raising questions over the number of freedom fighters in AL. He said the secretary general of BNP, formed with some brokers, killers and anti-liberation forces, is making derogatory comments against Awami League which led the country's great Liberation War.
These comments reveal their stance against the independence, he mentioned. The minister also said that those who are small-minded should not do politics for the betterment of the country.
"BNP is making statements saying that Sheikh Hasina could not bring anything on her visit to the United State (US) and will return empty-handed. Those who are small-minded should not do politics. Those who do not consider the country's achievements as their own do not need to do politics," he said.
The minister said this while inaugurating the peace procession (Shanti Shova jatra) and harmony festival (Sampriti Uthshab) organized in front of the National Museum marking the Buddha Purnima.
Noting that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently out of the country, AL General Secretary said that her foreign visit is not to complain, but to help the country reach a unique height.
"Those, who do politics with small mind, say that Sheikh Hasina's foreign tour has not achieved anything," he reiterated. During the time, Quader called for the building of a bridge of harmony rather than creating a dissension of politics. "Building political walls will destroy mutual relations," he added.
Pointing out at BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Obaidul Quader said that he has lost his honour by doing ill-politics.
He requested him not to dishonor the country in front of all as the country's achievement is the achievement of people of the country.
"It is not the achievement of Awami League. This is the achievement of all the people of Bangladesh," he added.
Quader said that during the current global crisis, Japan has given 30 billion yen or Taka 25 thousand crore, only for budget support.
"Isn't that an achievement? Whereas, the World Bank walked away from constricting the Padma Bridge after slandering us," he said.
The World Bank today admitted their mistake, Quader said, adding that by inviting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the World Bank also gave about Taka 25 thousand crore in budgetary support for Bangladesh.
"Is it not an achievement?" he asked.
Obaidul Quader hoped that all will work together to build a non-communal Bangladesh.
"Gautam Buddha has preached the message of peace. In this festival of Buddhists, everyone is maintaining communal harmony," he said.
With Bangladesh Bouddha Sangskritik Parishad President Prof Dr Uttam Kumar Barua in the chair, the programme was attended, among others, by AL Office Secretary Biplab Barua, Buddhist leaders and Thailand and Chinese embassy representatives.
Later, a colorful procession, started from Shahbagh, paraded different streets and ended at the central Shaheed Minar.
