Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the BNP will not be able to move ahead by forming a 12-party alliance splitting up the 20-party coalition.
"The BNP had formed the 20-party alliance for carrying out a movement and they saw that the wheels of the coalition did not move ahead. Now there will be no progress if they form a 12-party alliance as many parties of the group are inexperienced.
"Even the strength of the clique is less than our (Awami League's) ward or thana level. In fact, it is nothing else but a platform for isolated politicians," he told reporters while replying to a query in the seminar room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat.
Replying to another query about a statement of the Russian envoy in Dhaka, Hasan said foreign ambassadors should follow the Vienna Convention. There were some issues in the statement of the Russian Embassy in Dhaka, he added.
He said whenever some countries try to put pressure on any government, they raise questions over human rights issues of that country. But it was seen that human rights are violated extremely in those countries which are telling about the issue, he added.
"I think the statement will help realize those persons talking about different issues violating the Vienna Convention," said Hasan, also an Awami League joint general secretary.
The minister said once the finance minister had to rush to the Paris Consortium meeting to formulate the budget of the country while most parts of the budget came from grants and loans. "But now the situation has changed and about 90% of our budget is self-funded. Even in many cases we do not allow foreign loans or reject those. Bangladesh is now a self-dependent country," he said.
Hasan said: "I think that when a foreign diplomat tries to pry into our internal affairs, it amounts to interference on our freedom and sovereignty. But I want to blame those persons who, from time to time, rush to foreigners and provoke them into talking about our internal affairs, and they are the real culprits."
Replying to another query about the upcoming national council of the Awami League, the minister said there is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in the party, and every activist and supporter wants her to lead the party as long as she is alive. There is also no alternative to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when it comes to running the state, he added.
He said global leaders have praised the role of the prime minister as she turned the country into a developing state from a least-developing one. There is no alternative to her in the Awami League, he added.
"Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is our supreme leader. And she will decide who will hold which post," said Hasan.
Earlier, the minister unwrapped the cover of the book "Bangabandhu Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina" and "Bangladesher Swapnopuran", written by HM Mehedi Hasan.
Principal Information Officer Md Shahenur Mia, publisher Abu Hashem Sarker and senior officials of the ministry were present.
