BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: Quader

Terming BNP a major political party until now, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said they are inactive now and made mistakes, report agencies.

"They (BNP) are actually stuck in the quicksand of wrong politics," he said.

The AL leader came up with the remarks while talking to journalists at the Secretariat in the city on Monday.

Regarding BNP's leaflet distribution programme, he said the BNP's politics is going deep into the ditch. "Before it was on the edge of the ditch but now it is going deep into the ditch," he added.

Asked about the fact whether 13 BNP leaders and activists died in jail, he said: "Where and how did they die? Which prison or custody? Throwing stones in the dark will not make it happen."

Regarding Metrorail, Quader said initiatives are underway to reduce the movement frequency of metro rail in view of growing commuters' dependence on its service.

He also said the coach numbers could not be increased due to technical reasons but the steps were taken to run a train every eight minutes while the current frequency is 10 minutes.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said increasing the number of metro coaches depends on technical matters.

"There is no metro rail in the world with more than 5 compartments but we have already been running with six coaches," he said.

The minister, however, said due to the increased demand, work is going on whether the frequency of the movement of metro rail can be reduced to 8 minutes from 10 minutes.

About the prices of essentials, the AL general secretary said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already directed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to control the price hike.

"But the market cannot be controlled overnight. Many things depend on the world situation. The government is working by giving priority to public interest," he said.

Whether the size of the cabinet is expanding or not, Quader said the prime minister can say it but the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Culture may have ministers in the future.

He also said that winners from reserved women's seats can become ministers.

Earlier in the morning, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander V Mantytskiy paid a courtesy call on Obaidul Quader at his Secretariat office.

Later, the envoy told reporters that they discussed the issues related to Bangladesh's infrastructure, energy, agriculture, roads and bridges.