Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the ruling party has the moral courage to punish its own leaders and activists for criminal offences.
“No other party has the courage to punish its own leaders for their crimes. If anyone commits crimes, he or she will be punished. No-one will be spared,” he said.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, was talking to reporters after attending a programme marking the 32nd founding anniversary of Sheikh Russell Jatiya Shishu Kishore Parishad at the National Museum.
He said expelled general secretary of Jubo Mohila League’s Narsingdi unit Shamima Nur Papia was arrested following the directive of party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Awami League is the only party which metes out harsh punishment [to its activists and leaders] for crimes,” he said.
Talking about the Pilkhana tragedy, the ruling party leader alleged that BNP had been involved with it. “The Pilkhana carnage trial has set an example all over the world. Justice has never been delivered so fast in world history,” he said.
Quader also denounced BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s remarks that their party will take steps for the retrial of the 2009-Pilkhana BDR carnage through a fair investigation if it returns to power.
“On the day of the Pilkhana massacre, Khaleda Zia, who was known for waking up late, left her house at 7am. Where did she go? ….she talked to Tarique Rahman 11 times over phone on that day. Their conversations will be revealed if they go for retrial,” he said.
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Papia, 28, her husband Mofizur Rahman alias Sumon Chowdhury alias Moti Sumon, 38, and their two associates – Sabbir Khandaker, 29, and Sheikh Tayiba, 22 – from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday while they were trying to flee the country.
On Sunday, the elite force raided the two city houses of Papia and her rented presidential suite at a five-star hotel, and seized Tk 58.41 lakh in cash, seven passports, around Tk 2.12 lakh in cash and huge fake currencies.
source: UNB
