Dr Yunus's statement is tantamount to sedition: Quader

The statement made by Dr Muhammad Yunus seeking foreign intervention on Bangladesh affairs is an act of treason, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday.

"The recent statement, made by Dr Muhammad Yunus, seeking foreign intervention on the internal affairs of Bangladesh is similar to treason," he told a press conference at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office here.

Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges minister, said, "The trials of various corruptions and money laundering cases against Dr Yunus are underway at different courts in the country, so he has been involved in plot against the state aiming to get relief from the ongoing trials".

He said Dr Yunus in his recent statement has called upon the governments of different countries and the international community to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. "Such statement is tantamount to treason as per the country's constitution and a violation of international law," he added.

The AL general secretary said even Dr Yunus urged international community to take steps to put pressure on the Bangladesh government to hold an interim elections in Bangladesh and his (Yunus) statement is like an act of sedition.

Claiming that the incumbent government is constitutionally legal as it was formed through a democratic election, he said a government can be changed only by following democratic process.

About recent mayhem carried out during the anti-quota protest, Quader said BNP-Jammat carried out destruction and terrorism by assembling their terrorists in the capital from all over the country.

 He said a probe continues into the killings and the truth will be revealed. "A baby witnessing movement was killed. She was shot on head. Probe is going on. We cannot influence the probe body. It is necessary to unearth the mystery behind the deaths," he added.

Quader said there was information that militants entered the processions of the protesters and shot from close distance. "The instruction of shoot-on-sight was misinterpreted. This order was not given to the law enforcers. Even, the army did not shoot a single bullet," he said.

He said every killing incident will be probed and the killers will be identified. 

The road transport and bridges minister urged the law enforcement agencies not to harass innocent people. The situation is normal and all should play responsible role to this end, he added.

AL organising secretaries Ahmad Hossain, BM Mozammel Huq and Mirza Azam, science and technology affairs secretary Abdus Sabur and relief and social welfare affairs secretary Aminul Islam Amin, among others, were present at the press conference.