Awami League is not a party that stays is power by force, says General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

“We don't wish to stay in power exceeding popular will. People are AL's powerhouse. AL is in the power as well as runs the country because of popular demands," he said while addressing the extending meeting of party’s Dhaka South Unit in the capital on Friday (Oct 26).

Referring to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul's remarks, Quader said, “Not at the will of the police forces, AL rather runs the country at the people's demands,"

On Thursday (Oct 24), Mirza Fakhrul said, “The verdict [in Feni student Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case] is the evidence of government’s dependency on the police. Which is why police members were spared.”

Quader claimed Mirza Fakhrul is "talking  nonsense" over the Nusrat murder verdict.

"They [BNP] don't appropriate that AL men were being punished  for the crimes. They always look for a negative politics in everything," he said.

Speaking of ongoing crackdown, Quader, who is also the road transport minister, said “We aren’t concerned who has been hurt by recent raids that have earned huge applause home and abroad.

“No room for wrongdoers like terrorists, extortionists, and tender manipulators, in the party," he added before calling the party activists to "not hurt the people."

Claiming BNP is a master of hatching conspiracy, Quader  said, "People are not with the BNP... Which is why they do not get response in any party programme."

The senior AL leader claimed no trial over any big crime took place during BNP's term. "But AL is taking organizational and administrative actions [against the culprits]." he said.

Quader  informed that date of the AL's next council will be fixed in line with the schedule for the upcoming Dhaka city corporations elections.

On Pankaj Debnath, the senior Al leader said he has no knowledge whether the Swechchhasebak League leader faces any allegation.

"The leader [Sheikh Hasina] has ordered him to stay away from organisational activities. The affiliate body' committee to prepare  its council will continue to work to make the progamme a success," Quader said.

On Thursday, AL President and Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina ordered Swechchhasebak League general secretary Pankaj Debnath to stay away from organisational activities a day after removing its chief Mollah Md Abu Kausar on corruption allegations.

A lawmaker from Bhola-4 constituency, Pankaj had been holding the post of the ruling Awami League’s wing of volunteers since 2002.