Govt in power with people\\\'s mandate, says minister

Amid criticisms by the BNP-led alliance that the government is hanging onto power through using arms, Food Minister Quamrul Islam Saturday said that the present government is in power with people's support, not using arms, reports UNB.

"The Awami League (AL) government is there in power with people's mandate, not through arms," he said.

Quamrul, also joint general secretary of Dhaka City unit AL, said this while addressing a discussion organised by Deshratna Sebak Sangstha at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city.

The minister made the remarks responding to a comment of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a discussion Friday where he demanded a fresh national election with the participation of all political parties and said the government will not be able to cling to power using arms.

Quamrul further said, "BNP has returned to fair politics shunning hartal and anarchy. Now it's a matter to see how long it can maintain it? The government will extend all kinds of cooperation if it follows this path, or else, the government will take stern actions."

"BNP's only job is to spread falsehood. They're misguiding our foreign friends through spreading falsehoods. But if the government can continue its development activities their efforts to bewilder the foreigners wouldn't last long," Mr Quamrul added.

Krishak League vice-president MA Karim, among others, spoke at the programme held with Deshratna Sebok Sangstha president Chittaranjan Das in the chair.