Quader blames Padma River’s unpredictable nature for project delay

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and General Secretary of Awami League Obaidul Quader blamed the Padma River’s unpredictable nature for the delay in implementation of the Padma Bridge project.

Speaking to newly elected executive committee of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum on Thursday, the minister said “The nature of the country’s Padma River is unpredictable like South America’s Amazon River”.

We could not implement the Padma Bridge project on time due to inclement weather, but now the Bridge Division is rectifying the situation, said Quader. 

Responding to another query about new members of the Awami League Quader said there was no room for family members of war criminals and anti-liberation forces in the party.

“The family members of war criminals and anti-liberation forces cannot be members of Awami League,” adding “we do not provide AL membership to family members of war criminals”. 

“This is an old position of ours and it has been stated in the policy for new memberships of AL”, he said.

“Awami League is one of the oldest parties in Bangladesh and we should refrain from taking members from the party of anti-liberation forces”, the minister added.

He further said that party membership will not be given to family members of communal forces who do not believe in the liberation of Bangladesh.

Asked about the murder of Rifat that caused a sensation in the social media, the minister said “our party has taken a strong stand against the Barguna killers”.

He further added that the police would track down any influential people who might have been behind the killing. 

“We will ensure that no one gets a free pass, even elected public representatives”, the minister promised.