Dhaka, July 28– Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has alleged that there was a conspiracy to occupy the Prime Minister's official residence, Ganobhaban, in a "Sri Lankan style" coup on the night of July 19. He made this statement while distributing food items to the needy at the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon on Sunday.

Quader pointed fingers at the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), claiming that their actions surpassed even those of invading forces. "Your brutality has defeated the invading forces. Fugitive in London for power [Tareek Rahman] ... the target was that night to seize the Prime Minister's house Sri Lankan style by staging a mass coup, if the curfew was not imposed. This was their plan," he said.

He further stated that the BNP's new platform is a unity of "fire terror" aimed at destroying the country and its development. "BNP is now announcing a new platform against anti-independence, anti-national, and anti-development evil forces. It is natural that their friends will respond to their call. Where the head goes the tail follows... but their unity is the unity of fire terror."

Quader also commented on the necessity of imposing a curfew and deploying the army. He assured that the army did not fire any shots but emphasized the need for these measures to maintain order. "I challenge you, the army has not fired a shot anywhere. But it is being slandered - as if we have killed thousands of people."

He highlighted the severe traffic congestion in Dhaka caused by the non-operation of the Metrorail and Elevated Expressway due to the destruction inflicted by the recent violence. "The traffic jam in Dhaka City is unbearable today. Why this traffic jam? No Metrorail. The destruction at station number 10 of the Leela Metrorail, Kazipara station, the toll plaza of the elevated expressway was charred by fire today. People are not able to come and go from Uttara."

Quader accused BNP-Jamaat of causing public suffering for their pursuit of power. "People are realizing today how much they suffer if Metrorail, elevated are closed. It was given by BNP-Jamaat. For the sake of power, the common man is suffering, choosing the path of violence."

Quader also criticized Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, accusing him of opposing the government and seeking foreign intervention. "Yunus has entered the field as an opponent of the government. He requested India to stop Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina is infected, not the invader. Why stop him? Stop the attackers."

Quader's remarks raise questions about Yunus's motives and his involvement in the recent violence and arson. "He [Yunus] does not cherish the country's culture and freedom. He is not with us. How do we live with him? The people of the country do not see his role in any crisis or potential of the nation."

The event was chaired by Dhaka District Awami League President Benazir Ahmed and moderated by General Secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun. Awami League presidium members Abdur Razzak, Kamrul Islam, and organizing secretary Mirza Azam also spoke at the event, where food items were distributed to the needy.