Obaidul Quader, the General Secretary of the Awami League and the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, has issued a scathing dismissal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) recent calls for a mass movement to topple the current government. During a press briefing held at his official residence today, Quader characterised the opposition’s rhetoric as little more than “delirious talk” and “absurd assertions,” pointing to a significant disconnect between the party’s ambitions and its historical performance.
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A Critique of Political Capability
The Minister’s remarks centred on what he perceives as a lack of grassroots momentum within the BNP. He highlighted the irony of the party’s current objective—the removal of a democratically elected government—when they had previously failed to mobilise a successful movement to secure the release of their incarcerated party chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia.
“The BNP could not even wage a movement to free their own leader,” Quader observed. “To now speak of ousting a government through street agitation is nothing short of a theatrical absurdity.” He further posited that such grandiose claims have led to a sense of profound frustration amongst the BNP’s own rank and file, as the leadership’s promises continue to go unfulfilled.
Comparison of Political Narratives
To better understand the current ideological friction between the two major parties, the following table outlines the key points of contention addressed in today’s briefing:
| Feature | BNP Position/Rhetoric | Awami League (Quader’s Response) |
| Objective | Ousting the government via movement. | Termed as “delirious talk” and “absurdity.” |
| Public State | Calling for the people to “wake up.” | People are awake; BNP leaders are in “deep sleep.” |
| Party Strength | Claiming AL can be “pushed away.” | AL has deep roots; not born from a “gun barrel.” |
| Internal Morale | High-sounding rhetoric to motivate. | Growing frustration among workers and leaders. |
The “Deep Roots” Argument
Responding to the BNP’s provocative suggestion that the Awami League could be toppled with a simple “push,” Quader underscored the historical resilience of his party. He argued that the Awami League was not a product of military dictates or “born from the barrel of a gun”—a clear reference to the BNP’s origins under General Ziaur Rahman—but was instead a party with roots deeply embedded in the soil of the nation and the expectations of its people.
He maintained that the Awami League’s legitimacy is derived from its long-standing connection to the grassroots, whereas the BNP’s current standing is “tenuous and vulnerable.” According to Quader, the opposition remains far removed from the genuine aspirations of the citizenry, leading to their continued failure to resonate with the wider public.
A Call for Reality
In a final rebuttal to the BNP’s call for the public to “wake up,” the Minister remarked that the Bangladeshi people are very much aware of the progress the nation has made. He suggested that it is, in fact, the BNP leadership that is trapped in a state of political slumber, out of touch with the reality of the country’s development and stability. He concluded by asserting that high-sounding words cannot compensate for a lack of genuine public support or a clear, constructive political vision.