Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today expressed his satisfaction over the judgement in Holey Artisan cafe attack case and said people’s confidence in the judiciary has established through the verdict.

“Militants cannot ger escaped during the reign of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and that has been proved through the verdict,” Quader came up with the remarks while addressing a function in Jashore this noon.

Claiming that the verdict as an ominous sign for those provide shelter to the militants, Quader also the road transport and bridges minister said the judgement has established a peaceful future of the people in the country.

Earlier in the day, a tribunal in Dhaka handed death penalty to seven militants for their involvement in 2016 Holey Artisan cafe attack that left 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two policemen dead.

The court acquitted Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan from the case.

On July 1, 2016, armed militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery at the diplomatic zone in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.

The five gunmen, who held the diners’ hostage and were killed inside the upscale bakery in a commando operation launched to end the siege, are Nibrash Islam, Mir Sabeh Mubashir and Rohan Ibne Imtiaz, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Uzzal.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said people are astonished at the fraudulence of two hospitals in coronavirus sample testing.

He made the remark while briefing reporters online from his official residence.

Quader, also Awami League General Secretary, urged the authorities concerned to bring all the accused to justice soon after investigations.

Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government neither spared wrongdoers in the past nor will do in the future.

About cattle markets before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, Quader said permission will not be given to arrange animal markets whimsically at any place beside highways.

Over the experts' fear of coronavirus transmission during Eid, Quader said the National Technical Advisory Committee has advised not to allow setting up animal markets in some districts.

 It will bring good results if their advice is followed properly, Quader added.

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said devoted persons who remained with the party in its well and woe will be made the party leaders.

“We want more disciplined and well-organized Awami League. We do not want opportunists in the party. Devoted workers will be evaluated in the party,” he said while addressing the first session of AL Chattogram District North unit’s triennial conference at the historic Laldighi Maidan in the city.

Quader said AL has a large number of workers so there is no need of wrongdoers in the party.

The party, he said, does not need workers like those who were involved with BUET student Abrar Fahad killing, who created chaos in the Chattogram University and who plunged college principal into a pond in Rajshahi.

The AL general secretary said once Chattogram was Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s strong base for achieving independence and it was also a strong base of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He called upon the leaders and workers of Chattogram to be united shunning quarrels.

AL Presidium Member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated the conference while Presidium Member Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Publicity and Publication Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organizing Secretary and Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shameem, Organizing Secretary and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam and Deputy Office Secretary and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Barrister Biplab Barua, among others, addressed the session.

AL Chattogram District North Unit acting President ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury chaired the function while its General Secretary MA Salam conducted it.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahbubul Alam Hanif said pro-BNP lawyers have made an unprecedented incident by creating chaos in the courtroom. People of no other countries witnessed such a terrible incident inside the courtroom of the chief justice, he added.

Dr Hasan Mahmud said world leaders including the US president, Indian prime minister, World Bank president and its chief economist have praised the unprecedented development of Bangladesh. But BNP and its 20-party alliance could not praise the achievements of the country, he added.

Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said BNP has become a political party based on media as now the party’s only task is to hold a press conference for spreading falsehood against Awami League and the government.

Chattogram City AL Acting President Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor and City AL General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin, Chattogram District South unit of AL President Moslem Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary Mafizur Rahman, lawmakers Didarul Alam, Mahfuzur Rahman Mita and Khadizatul Anwar Sony were present in the dais.

A huge number of leaders and workers joined the council. Later in the afternoon council session was held at the International Convention Centre in the city.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today urged the affluent people of the country to extend their helping hand during the crisis created by the global coronavirus outbreak.

"In these days of humanitarian crisis, stand beside people," Quader, also general secretary of Awami League, said while speaking at a press conference at Awami League president's Dhanmondi political office in Dhaka.

People of this country have always remained patient and responsible during any disaster and we have never been defeated, he added.

Quader also called the general people not to pay heed to any rumours and urged all to maintain social distance and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

He also informed that his party leaders and activists will stand by people.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is observing the situation closely and giving necessary directives, Quader said.