Govt doesn’t protect criminals even if party affiliated: Quader

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the government does not protect anyone. 

He made the comment in reply to a query over the court’s order to confiscate the assets of the former IGP Benazir Ahmed and whether the government is embarrassed about the US ban on the former army chief General Aziz Ahmed.

“We see criminals as criminals. Whoever the person is, he must be punished if he commits a crime by the court as per the existing laws of the country,” he said while talking to reporters at a press conference at the Awami League office on Bangabandhu Avenue on Friday (May 24) morning.

Quader said, “No matter how influential a person is, he can commit a crime. The question remains whether the government is sincere in punishing the criminal. Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government has that sincerity and honesty. No one will be spared. The Judiciary and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are independent. If someone is found guilty, we will not protect him. Be it an ex-IGP or an ex-army chief, the government does not protect anyone.”

Pointing out that the government was not on their side even though all those convicted in the murder of BUET student Abra belonged to the Chhatra League, he said that the government could not provide protection to those who were hanged in the Biswajit murder. Individuals can commit crimes. The question is whether the government is providing protection. The Sheikh Hasina government has zero tolerance here. One must be punished if he commits a crime.

Citing that the government did not even try to protect the killers of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad, even though all the convicts in that murder case were Chhatra League activists, the minister said, “The government did not protect those who were hanged in the Biswajit murder case.”

“Individuals can commit crimes. The question is whether the government is providing protection. The Sheikh Hasina government has zero tolerance here. One must be punished if he commits a crime,” he added.

Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain, and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were also present at the press conference.