General Secretary of the ruling Awami League Obaidul Quader today said BNP’s invitation for public hearing on the 11th parliamentary election was nothing but a mockery.

“BNP has been making mass mockery in the name of holding public hearing on the 11th parliamentary election as the name of Dr Kamal Hossain is being pronounced as its chief justice,” he said at a press conference held at AL President’s political office at Dhanmondi in Dhaka.

Among others, AL’s Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, central executive committee members, Mirza Azam, MP, and SM Kamal Hossain, were present on the occasion.

“There is no option left, rather than making complaints and cases for a political party, which had embraced defeat in the election and movements,” said Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges minister.

“BNP is now initiating an attempt to revitalise their leaders and workers following both the ways. But, the party will finally start crying after failing to achieve anything from the efforts,” he continued.

Regarding release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from the jail, he said, “The government has no authority to free Khaleda Zia from the jail as the authority lies on the court only.”

“BNP has to fight legal battle or carry out movement to release Khaleda Zia from the jail,” he opined.

Asked about publication of gazette of the 9th wage board award for journalists, he said, “The gazette will be published soon. It will not be justified to make delay in doing so. A meeting will be held soon to this end.”

Replying to another query about inclusion of television in the wage board, he said, “There is a plan to include the electronic media in the wage board.”