Awami League continues struggle to institutionalise democracy: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the ruling party, led by its President Sheikh Hasina, continues its struggle to give the country's democracy an institutional shape.

"We continue struggling to institutionalise democracy under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Our struggle will continue," he said at a meeting here after paying homage to Shaheed Noor Hossain.

Marking the Shaheed Noor Hossain Day, the leaders and activists of the AL and its affiliated organisations paid tribute by placing wreaths at Noor Hossain Square at Zero Point in the capital.

Speaking on the occasion, Quader said BNP caused damage to the country's democracy when it was in power, and it is damaging democracy too when the party is in the opposition.

"Now we continue our struggle to institutionalise democracy," he added.
The AL general secretary said democracy is a continuous process, while it is not a magical transformation that will change overnight.

"Our leader, Bangabandhu's daughter (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina, had waged a movement to unchain the democracy from autocracy," he said.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said the BNP should promise that its people will not commit arson terrorism and must keep its pledge at the field level.

"Why do their leaders and activists have to come out with sticks? Attaching national flags to sticks during their movement is another form of terrorism, which must be stopped," he said.

The minister said democracy was unchained and freed through a movement, led by Sheikh Hasina, but there are many obstacles to institutionalisation of democracy in Bangladesh.

The high wall that BNP raised against the relations of various political parties on August 15 got elevated on November 3, he said.

"On August 21, it reached further heights. This is the main obstacle to the flourishing of democracy," he said, adding that democracy has been hampered time and again in the country.

On November 10 in 1987, Quader said, Noor Hossain was martyred on the city street in a procession of democratic movement against the then dictator.

Marking the day, AL general secretary Quader paid tribute first to Noor Hossain by placing a wreath on behalf of the party.

AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmad Hossain and SM Kamal Hossain, Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Culture Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Agriculture and Cooperative Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laili, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Education and Human Resources Affairs Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, Deputy Office Sayem Khan, and Executive Members Adv Amirul Islam Milon, ABM Rizaul Kabir Kawsar, Marufa Akhtar Popy, Anisur Rahman, Azizus Samad Azad Don and Syed Abdul Awal Shamim were, among others, present.

Later, the leaders and activists of different organisations, including Jubo League and Bangladesh Chhatra League, paid tributes to Shaheed Noor Hossain by placing wreaths.