Political Correspondent

Sharply criticizing BNP’s comments over pourashava (municipality) elections, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said BNP’s statement about the polls is like ‘the yard is crooked if you don’t know how to dance’.

“Actually, they (BNP) has no other option but to say this in front of the press club to cover up the shame that they have won only two seats in municipality polls in the first round. When no one knows how

to dance, they say that the yard is crooked. And BNP is also saying

like that,” he said.

The minister made the comments while addressing a discussion and

laptops distribution programme at Awami League office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the city.

Sheikh Russel Shishu-Kishore Parishad organized the programme

marking the Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Zunaid Ahmed Palak addressed the function as special guest with

parishad founder chairman Md Rakibur Rahman in the chair.

Hasan said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and

other leaders of the party have told that the polls to municipality on

January 16 will not be held fairly. Actually, they are talking is like

that when no one knows how to dance, they say that the yard is

crooked, he added.

He said the polls to pourashava held fairly and the upcoming polls

will also be held in a fair manner. “I would like to urge BNP to solve

their disunity in pourashavas, districts and upazilas levels.

Otherwise, there will be no benefit in lying in front of the press

club,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

About misinformation over the cost of Corona vaccine apps, the

minister said wrong news was published in some media. But, the ICT

Division and the Health Ministry have cleared that there is no cost

for the apps.

Besides, he said, the report of buying vaccine from India at 47

percent higher price is not also true. This is false news, he added.

He said, “We will get vaccine with the same price like India. If a

responsible media outlet gives false or untrue news, then their

responsibility and credibility are diminished. I would like to urge

all media to publish news after thorough investigation.

About the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu, the minister said the

country achieved independence on December 16, 1971. But the

independence didn’t get fulfillment until the homecoming of Father of

the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10, 1972, he

added.

“Homecoming of Bangabandhu consolidated our independence and

sovereignty,” said Hasan.

Terming the children and juveniles as the future generation, the

minister said the country can reach the destination of dream when the

generation will be built combining with merit, affection, values,

patriotism and logic. And the country will be sustained, he added.

Palak said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is

the inspiration of all development and his worthwhile daughter Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina is implementing the development programmes.

Every citizen should take part in the progress, he said.

Organizers of the body Captain (retd.) Moazzem Hossain, K M Shahid

Ullah and Asadul Haque, among others, addressed the programme.

Later, the information minister and state minister of ICT handed

over 12 laptops among youth organizers of different districts.