BNP slams Quader for ‘comfortable’ Eid journey remark

BNP slams Quader for ‘comfortable’ Eid journey remark

BNP on Monday termed mockery Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader’s comment that this year's eid will be the most comfortable one in the country’s history.

“We would like to say this eid will be the most painful one as the country’s most popular leader has been kept in jail by force. Farmers don’t have the joy of eid as they were deprived of fair prices of paddy while the teachers of many schools and madrasas are also not in euphoric mood of eid as they’re yet to get salary and bonus,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said shopping malls across the country are not witnessing the rush of customers ahead of eid as people have not enough money for shopping.

The BNP leader said several crore youths remained unemployed while around 50 lakh opposition leaders and activists are either in jail or on the run to avoid arrest in ‘false’ cases. “They don’t have the joy of eid. So, Obaidul Quader’s remark about the most comfortable eid is serious mockery to repressed people.”

Rizvi voiced deep concern over Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed’s comment that around 300 out of 512 militants arrested by the elite force since the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in 2016 were released on bail, and most of them have gone into hiding.

“The entire nation is stunned over the Rab DG’s comment. We know the lower court is completely under the government’s control while opposition and human rights activists and even lawyers don’t get bail from it. So, how the dangerous militants are securing bail from the government controlled lower court?” he said.

The BNP leader said people have long been suspecting whether the government is staging a drama in planned way in the name of drive against militants. “The Rab DG’s remark has deepened it further.”

He also questioned as to how the militates are going into hiding coming out of jail since BNP leaders and activists are being rearrested at jail gates minutes after their release on bail.