Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said Bangladesh's friendship is with the Indian government, not with any particular party or person of that country.
 
He made the remarks at a press conference at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office in the capital this evening.
 
About the upazila elections, Quader said it was feared that the upazila elections would be held in conflicting situations but in reality, it did not happen. “The elections were peaceful except for one or two sporadic incidents. No casualties were reported,” he added.
 
Quader said the election date for the upazilas was postponed due to the cyclone, and it has been rescheduled for June 9 next.
 
Claiming that the voter turnout in the fourth phase of upazila polls was more than 34 percent, the AL general secretary said: “On behalf of the Awami League, I would like to thank the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies, and those involved in the polls.”
 
About the BNP’s allegation that there are many Aziz and Benazir in the Awami League, he said, "Who created Shamsul Huda, Rakibul Huda, and SP Kohinur?" Who made Moin U Ahmed the army chief bypassing eight people? Mr Mirza Fakhrul is not even ashamed. He is now putting their responsibility on the Awami League.”
 
The AL general secretary said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is independent and it can conduct probes over graft allegations against the ministers also.
 
Bangladesh became champion in graft five times in a row during the BNP tenure but BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is now saying that they will wage a movement against corruption, he said.
 
Quader said the best joke of the year is that the corrupt party -BNP- will wage the movement against graft.
 
About the case filed against Dr Muhammad Yunus, he said the trial of this case is going on. “Our country has its laws. Dr Yunus will get justice as per laws and he will not have to suffer any injustice in the case. He will get the fair trial he deserves. We have no intention to insult him in any way,” Quader said.
 
AL organizing secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, and Sujit Roy Nandi, office secretary Biplab Barua, publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were, among others, present at the press conference.