Anti-govt agenda in quota demo brushed away: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said there was a shadow of anti-government agenda in the quota demonstration and that it was handled aptly.

Citing reference to BNP, he said their dream to get benefit from the quota reform protests evaporated completely.

Earlier at a programme, Quader had said that BNP is now frustrated that it could not device any mechanism to steer the quota reform protests to its advantage and turn it into an anti-government movement.

He had also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took a timely decision to thwart BNP from fishing in troubled waters during the agitation for quota reformation.

Quader also spoke on the issue of Jatiya Party seeking 70 seats at the parliament and about a dozen ministries – the demand laid down by HM Ershad ahead of the upcoming election.

“If the Jatiya Party has winnable candidates why will they not be given the seats? And if they don’t have winnable candidates, why will they be given the seats?” he said.

In regard to cabinet seats, he said: “The formation of the cabinet is an issue of post-election government formation, and the prime minister will have the sole authority over it.”