GM Quader
Bangladesh becoming ‘uninhabitable’, bemoans GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said Bangladesh is gradually becoming an ‘uninhabitable’ country for lack of safety of people.
“People lack the safety of their lives and dignity. It seems to be a normal affair that people will die in accidents on roads while bus passengers die hit by trains and many people get killed in accidents on waterways,” he said.
Read: Liberation War: GM Quader says martyrs’ dreams remain unfulfilled
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, bemoaned that those responsible for various accidents are not being brought to justice.
He regretted that women are being subjected to gang-raped while travelling with their husbands and children.
“Those who wear caps having beards are being harassed by branding them as militants. Many innocent people are being extorted money by calling them militants. The country is becoming uninhabitable day by day,” the Jatiya party chief said.
He made the remarks at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Jatiya Party’s Kishoreganj district unit at the party Chairman’s Banani office.
GM Quader said people are going through a tough time to cope with the soaring prices of the daily essentials. “The prices of essentials are going up uncontrollably, but people have no job and income. So, most of the people in the country are struggling to make ends meet.”
After passing MA, he said, many youths are working as hawkers for lack of jobs and many educated unemployed are driving CNG-run auto-rickshaws as their merits are not being evaluated.
Read: UP polls: GM Quader says no change in centre-capturing culture
“We’re failing to use the educated unemployed in the interest of the country. Hundreds of educated unemployed are going abroad every year crossing the seas and hills illegally taking the risk of their lives and even many die,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
He said their party does not do the politics to take anyone to power or to remove anyone from it. “Jatiya Party is doing politics for the emancipation of people. "We also don't do politics to gain someone's trust or to dislike someone. Jatiya Party is in the field of politics with a distinct ideology.
GM Quader also said people want to see the Jatiya Party in power as an alternative to Awami League and BNP.
Liberation war dream remains unfulfilled: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday said inequality and exploitation still prevail in the country as the dream of independence is yet to be fulfilled, even after 50 years of the Liberation War.
“The dream with which the great Liberation War was organised and the purpose for which the heroic martyrs sacrificed their lives that dream has not been materialized yet,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief also said the struggle to implement the spirit of the Liberation War is not over yet. “Our politics will continue to materialise the dream of the Liberation War.”
READ: Bring down fuel prices in line with global market fall: GM Quader
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after paying tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.
GM Quader said the Liberation War was organised with the aim of freeing the nation from discrimination and exploitation.
“The Pakistanis had discriminated against us. At that time, Pakistanis made Bengalis the second-class citizens and they deprived us of all rights,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chairman said fighting against inequality and exploitation was the main spirit of the Liberation War. “Even in the 50 years of independence, we’ve not been able to rise above inequality and we’ve not been able to build a society free from exploitation.”
He said there has been now inequality between the ruling party and the opposition. ”Billions of dollars are being siphoned off abroad from the country. So, the self-sacrifices of millions of martyrs in the great Liberation War and the exchange of chastity of mothers and sisters and the highest sacrifice of the martyred intellectuals have not yet succeeded.”
READ: UP polls: GM Quader says no change in centre-capturing culture
GM Quader said their party will move forward to build a new Bangladesh free from discrimination and exploitation. “We want to build that Bangladesh for which the heroic martyrs sacrificed their lives.”
Bring down fuel prices in line with global market fall: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman on Saturday urged the government to lower the fuel prices as oil prices fell in the global market.
“Fuel prices have been hiked with an excuse of growing oil prices in the international market,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief said the unnecessary hike in oil prices has made people's lives miserable. “The oil prices are now falling in the global market. Why are oil prices not brought down here?”
He made the remarks while addressing an extended meeting of Dhaka south city unit of Jatiya Party at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the oil prices were very low in the world market earlier, but the government did not decrease the prices in the country.
Read: Prices soaring for no reason: GM Quader
He also trashed the government’s logic to keep the prices higher to prevent the smuggling of fuel. “It’s never possible to smuggle fuel oil without a tanker or a pipeline.
The Jatiya Party chief said former president HM Ershad during his rule had kept the price of oil at Tk 7 per liter by giving subsidies. “The price of that diesel is now Tk 80.”
He said the people of the country go through sufferings when the fuel prices remain high as it pushes up the prices of all commodities and services.
As the fuel prices rose, GM Quader said the owners and workers of public transport went on a strike without any prior announcement, leaving lakhs of commuters in misery.
He said some government officials concerned raised the fares of transports after a meeting with transport owners. “The fares of gas-run buses have also been hiked through the gas price was not increased.”
Read: UP polls: GM Quader says no change in centre-capturing culture
GM Quader alleged that the transport workers are collecting much higher fares than the fixed ones.
He said power tariffs have also been increased while the prices of daily essential commodities are skyrocketing. “People are struggling to make ends meet. No one seems to have control over the market.”
The Jatiya Party chairman also said the farmers are not getting fair prices of their produce though all the essential items are being sold at exorbitant prices in the market.
UP polls: GM Quader says no change in centre-capturing culture
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday alleged that a festival of capturing polling stations like grabbing char land is going on in the Union Parishad (UP) elections.
“The way violence is happening in the UP elections it can’t be accepted in a civilized society…an appalling situation is prevailing in rural areas due to the incidents of killing, attacks and counter-attacks,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the allegation at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of BPUM, a human rights organisation, at Jatiya Party Chairman's Banani office.
He said the people of the country do not want to see such killings and violence in the elections. “There’re also allegations that election results are being changed somewhere.”
The Jatiya Party chief said the Election Commission has completely failed to hold the UP elections in a free and fair manner.
READ: ‘Entente’ behind transport sector chaos: GM Quader
“Common people are now scared to see the showdown with arms in front of the members of law enforcement agencies,” GM Quader observed.
He called upon the Election Commission to take effective steps to ensure that the upcoming elections are held in a free and credible manner with a festive mood.
Jatiya Party Presidium Member Fakhrul Imam, Mir Abdus Sabur Asud, Advocate Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan and Office Secretary MA Razzak Khan were, among others, present.
READ: Road anarchy over bus fares must be stopped: GM Quader
At least eight people were killed and over 100 others injured as the 3rd phase of UP elections were held on Sunday amid sporadic violence and irregularities.
‘Entente’ behind transport sector chaos: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday raised a question in parliament whether “government authorities” have made any ‘entente’ with transport sector leaders.
“The reports on charging extra fares, harassing passengers and various irregularities in the transport sector are regularly run by the media… who’s actually controlling the transport sector--the government or the transport owners, or the workers--?” he questioned.
While delivering the valedictory speech in the 15th session of the 11th parliament, the Jatiya Party chief also wanted to know, “Who are working to protect the interests of people in an important sector like transport? Is there any entente between the government authorities and the leaders of this sector? Many people make such an allegation.”
Also read: Road anarchy over bus fares must be stopped: GM Quader
GM Quader, also Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, was seen smiling while raising the question standing beside his party MP Moshiur Rahman Ranga, president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners 'Association.
He said it is only natural that transport owners may demand an increase in bus fares due to the rise in fuel prices but people were subjected to inhuman sufferings as a transport strike was imposed without any prior notice.
The Jatiya Party chairman also did not find any justification behind the suspension of services by gas-run buses.
He said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), which is responsible for building a modern and disciplined road transport system, should have taken effective punitive action against those who disrupted the road transport system by going on strike without any notice.
He said the BRTA fixed new fares for the diesel-run buses as per their demand, but both the gas-run and diesel-run buses are taking extra fares from the passengers.
GM Quader also said the students’ current demand for ensuring half bus fare for them is a justified one.
Also read: No one to look into public sufferings: GM Quader
He said students in different countries travel by public transport at lower fares than usual. “This system was in practice in our country in the past.”
He hoped that the authorities concerned will implement the issue of half fares for students as soon as possible either by enacting a law or an executive order.
In his speech, GM Quader made a demand for introducing retirement benefits for the MPs. “We’ve many MPs serving people for 20-25 years as their representative. In many countries, MPs are given retirement support. I demand that such arrangements be made in our country, “he observed.
The Jatiya Party chief said similar benefits can also be introduced for mayors, councilors, chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of local government bodies.
Road anarchy over bus fares must be stopped: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday voiced concern over the transport workers’ rowdy attitude towards passengers and urged the government to take steps for stopping road anarchy over bus fares.
“It can’t be accepted the way the transport workers misbehave with passengers. Road anarchy must be stopped,” he said.
In a statement, the Jatiya Party chief said the transport workers are collecting much more money from passengers than the bus fares increased by the road transport authorities on the pretext of hike in diesel and kerosene prices.
Read: No one to look into public sufferings: GM Quader
As a result, GM Quader said, the ordinary passengers are being harassed while trying to reach their destinations by bus every day. “When they (passengers) protest, they’re subjected to indescribable torture.”
He also said full fares are being collected from students instead of half they deserve. “The transport workers are behaving harshly with female students and women.”
GM Quader said transport owners and workers had enforced a transport strike without any prior notice soon after the government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter on the night of November 3 last, harassing crores of commuters. “But no one has the right to call a strike without any prior notice.”
Later, he said, the government raised the transport fares through discussions with the transport owners and workers. “Many common people expressed their displeasure over the issue as they thought it’s a staged-managed drama. Even after that, the workers are collecting fares from passengers several times higher than the officially fixed ones.”
Read: Raising fuel price, transport fare an anti-people move: GM Quader
Though the oil prices have started falling on the international market, the Jatiya Party chief said the government does not seem to have any plan to lower the fuel prices.
He bemoaned that the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing due to the rise in transportation costs. “That’s why ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet.”
GM Quader said the government has to take a quick decision to reduce the fuel prices as the oil prices have started falling in the world market.
He also urged the government to take steps for ensuring half fares for students.
No one to look into public sufferings: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Qudaer on Monday alleged that though common people are going through serious hardships due to the soaring prices of all essentials, there is no one to look into their sufferings.
“The people of the country are not having a good time. Ordinary people have become worried due to the growing commodity prices. They’re struggling to make ends meet due to the price hike,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, made the remarks, while exchanging views with the union leaders of the private employees working in government colleges and madrasas at the Jatiya Party chairman's Banani office.
READ: UP polls creating panic instead of festivity: GM Quader
He said there has been anarchy in every sector as the government has irrationally raised the fuel prices. “Transportation costs have risen due to hikes in diesel and kerosene prices. This is casting an adverse effect on every sector,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
He said the prices of all essential items and raw materials are skyrocketing gradually because of lack of monitoring by the government. “It seems there’s no one to see the sufferings of ordinary people.”
GM Quader urged the government to take effective steps to check the price hike of essentials and ease the public sufferings.
READ: Raising fuel price, transport fare an anti-people move: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party Chairman also called upon the government to accept the justified demands of private employees working in government colleges and madrasas.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Presidium Member Mir Abdus Sabur Asud, Joint Secretary General Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan, Organising Secretary Joynal Abedin and Office Secretary MA Razzak Khan were, among others, present at the programme.
Raising fuel price, transport fare an anti-people move: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday alleged that the government has taken a stance against the interest of the common people by raising bus and launch fares instead of lowering fuel oil prices.
In a statement, he said, “The government has increased the prices of diesel and kerosene irrationally. We had demanded a reduction in fuel oil prices. But the government raised the transport and launch fares,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the decision to increase oil prices and transportation costs is an anti-people one.
He demanded the government reduce the increased prices of diesel and kerosene and the increased fares of buses and launches.
Also read: Fuel price hike ‘illogical’: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chairman said the government suddenly increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter on the night of November 3.
He bemoaned that the government has also increased bus fares by 27 percent and launch fares by 35 percent without reducing fuel prices in the face of a movement by transport owners, leaving people in unbearable sufferings.
“With the rise in fuel oil prices, the cost of living and transportation is increasing fast,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
He also said several crore people became unemployed during the Covid pandemic, and they are now living an inhuman life. “In such a reality, raising the fuel prices is an unacceptable decision. Neighbouring India has also slashed diesel and kerosene prices.”
Also read: People facing “starving-like situation”: BNP
GM Quader said it is now imperative to reduce the cost of fuel and public transport to normalise the cost of living.
On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of the price hike of petroleum in the international market.
Fuel price hike ‘illogical’: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday alleged that the government has enhanced the fuel price ‘illogically’ as it will increase the costs of living further.
“Fuel prices have been hiked irrationally. If the fuel prices go up, the costs of production and transportation of goods will increase,” he said.
GM Quader, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, said people’s lives have already become unbearable due to the rise in commodity prices. “As the prices of fuel rise, people's lives will now become more miserable.”
Speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office, he also said the sufferings of people will only be mounted if the government runs the country with a business attitude.
GM Quader called upon the government to govern the country with the mentality of serving people instead of doing business.
He said the fuel prices have been increased with an excuse of rising oil prices in the international market. “Fuel prices were much lower on the international market during the corona period, but the fuel prices were not reduced at that time.”
Read: Private operators’ LPG: Price goes up again
The Jatiya Party chairman wanted to know where the money has gone that was earned during the low fuel prices in the international market.
He said fuel prices should be kept tolerable even by giving subsidies.
GM Quader also said Bangladesh ranks 124th out of 139 countries in the rule of law index. “We’re lagging behind in various international indexes. This is very unfortunate.”
Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council called an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday in protest against the fuel price hike.
Leaders of the organization said the government raised the toll of Bangabandhu Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge from 257 percent to 300 percent “illogically” on November 2 and then it raised the prices of fuel, said a press release.
On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level.
Read: Fuel price hike: transporters to go on indefinite strike from Friday
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of price hike of petroleum on the international market.
Meanwhile, the price of private operators’ liquified petroleum gas (LPG) has been raised to Tk 1,313 per 12-kg container from Tk 1259 with effect from Thursday (Nov 4) at the retail level.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price at a press briefing.
Prices soaring for no reason: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday said the prices of daily essentials keep soaring without any reason for lack of monitoring of the market.
“The vegetables that the farmers are selling at Tk5 per kg are being sold in the market at Tk 50-60 due to the middlemen and extortionists,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, GM Quader also said the extortionists are collecting tolls from goods-laden vehicles in a free style by opening offices in different areas.
READ: Bangladesh politics not for good people any more: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chief said common people have become completely baffled due to the unusual hike in the prices of essential commodities. “But there’s no one to check it.”
He said if the price of any product is increased by Tk 1 abroad, it is increased up to Tk 100 in Bangladesh. “Those who’re supposed to monitor the market, they’re indulging in corruption. So, there’s no solution to the problem.”
READ: Identify reasons why police failed to control violence: GM Quader
Jatiya Jubo Sanghati arranged the programme at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office, making the National Youth Day 2021.
GM Quader said many mega projects are being implemented in the country, but there is no effective step for creating job opportunities for the unemployed youth of the country.
He said the government must take pragmatic steps for creating employment opportunities for around 4.5 crore jobless people. “The employment of youths should be ensured in all mega projects in the days to come.”
The Jatiya Party chief lamented that the government is hardly bothered about the suffering of jobless youths. “No one seems to care about jobs for youths.”
Unable to find work in the country, he said many young people are going abroad in many ways risking their lives. “Young people are dying while crossing the sea in unauthorised dinghy boats. Youths lose their lives while going abroad through deserts or jungles. What can be a more tragic incident than this!”
He said the government can take mega projects as those who stay abroad send most of their income home. “But the expatriates are harassed as soon as they land at the airport.