BNP leaders should apologize before riding on Padma Bridge: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said BNP leaders, who carried out propaganda against the Padma Bridge extremely, would seek apology to the Prime Minister and the nation before riding on the bridge if they have shame.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has constructed the Padma Bridge for all. But, the BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have no shame. If they have shame, before riding the bridge they should have told that ‘we are seeking apology from the nation and the prime minister for spreading propaganda’. They are using the bridge secretly as they have no shame,” he said.

The minister said these to reporters while replying to a query at the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat here after returning from the COP-27 in Egypt.

Presenting an expenditure of the Padma Bridge and Hardinge Bridge, Hasan said standard of value of anything is determined on the basis of gold rate as the price rate of gold is static. As per the account, the cost of the Padma Bridge is one-fifth of the cost of Hardinge Bridge, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Replying to another query over BNP’s movement against the government, the minister said they are telling for long 14 years that they will topple the government and they would not return home until bringing down it (government). But, the reality is that they go home after every rally as the countrymen are not with them, he added.

He said, “Their (BNP) movements benefited us and our activists are becoming stronger and preparing themselves to combat the evil forces. Awami League has a quality that if someone punches, the workers of the party are united and energized. And the Jubo League rally is the manifestation of that where millions of youths were gathered.”

Replying to another query over an allegation of BNP’s secretary general, the minister said BNP had made the country champions consecutively for five times. BNP had collected tolls from every business through ‘Hawa Bhaban’ when they were in power, he added.

He said Mirza Fakhrul Islam has told that a national government will be formed under the leadership of Tarique Rahman after toppling the government. But the people of Bangladesh never accepted it, said hasan.

About his visit in COP-27, the minister said the developed nations have said that they gave 82 billion dollars in the international fund last year to tackle the impacts of the climate change.

He said there is a big secret deceive as the Paris Agreement on global climate finance clearly states that 'In addition to present ODA (Overseas Development Assistance)' which means that the ODA given by the developed nations will not be considered to be included in this fund. Additional money will be paid to the Climate Fund, he added.

“We do not agree with this,” said Hasan.