Awami League's General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader, pointed fingers at the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), alleging its involvement in endorsing and backing syndicates to artificially inflate commodity prices. He made these remarks during a press conference held at the Awami League President's political office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Quader asserted that BNP has historically nurtured and patronized such syndicates, attributing the current situation of price hikes to their past actions. He emphasized that the present government is committed to controlling commodity prices and will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt public welfare for political gains.
Addressing concerns about electricity subsidies, Quader stated that the government aims to gradually reduce these subsidies while ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply. He highlighted the significant progress made in power generation capacity under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In response to BNP's claims of bringing back democracy through movements, Quader criticized their decision to boycott recent elections and engage in violent activities instead. He emphasized that BNP's negative politics and failure to participate constructively in elections have undermined their credibility.
Quader also discussed the upcoming upazila elections, noting that while BNP may not participate formally, grassroots leaders might contest as independent candidates to safeguard their interests.
Regarding the economic crisis and rising prices of goods, Quader attributed these challenges to global factors and assured that the government is diligently working to mitigate their impact on citizens' purchasing power.
In addressing corruption allegations, Quader affirmed the government's commitment to holding accountable anyone involved in corrupt practices, regardless of their political affiliation or former ministerial positions.
The press conference was attended by several Awami League officials, including Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque and Mirza Azam, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan.
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