Donald Lu comes to implement own agenda: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh to hold talks to implementing his own country’s agenda.

“Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh. We don’t care about their visa policy or anything else. He is not even a minister. We didn’t invite him rather he has come to this country because of their different needs. If bilateral relations exist, such visits happen,” he said.

Quader made the comments in a press conference at the Road Transport and Highways Division conference room at the secretariat here.

Asked about BNP’s call for strengthening their movement to boycott Indian products during their meeting with allies, the AL general secretary said this is their failed attempt as no BNP leader will boycott Indian products.

“I think BNP’s call for boycotting Indian products is an absurd thought. Actually, BNP got perplexed after losing everything. As they have no issue now, they are making Indian product boycott as their issue. But it is not an issue in Bangladesh,” he said.

Quader said the movement of BNP and its allies has no public involvement as their recent two rallies in Dhaka also flopped.

Workers of BNP became frustrated as they have lost confidence in their leaders, he said.

About imposing 15 percent value added tax (VAT) on metro-rail fare, the minister said it is not realistic as there is no such instance of imposing 15pc VAT on metro-rail fare in any other country in the world.

Noting that there is instance of imposing 5pc VAT in a neighboring country, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will consider whether there is any logical ground of it in Bangladesh.

About plying of unfit vehicles in the capital city, Quader said unfit vehicles will be dumped. But considering the issue of people’s hassle, those vehicles have minimum fitness to ply will not be dumped now, he mentioned.

“We are considering adding electric buses to public transport,” he said.