Dhaka Bureau: Awami League general secretary and bridge minister Obaidul Quader said we have not invited anyone. Donald Lu has come to talk about various issues between the two countries. Why so much fuss about him?
This top leader of the Awami League also commented that we do not care about US sanctions and visa policy.
He said these things while discussing contemporary issues at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Obaidul Quader said we cannot survive without Indian spices. Just because of masala, sarees and clothes will come from India; apart from this, some other daily essential products will also come.
He said that the call for boycotts of Indian products is a failed attempt by the BNP movement. Failing in the movement, they want to hold on to straws. Actually, they have no issue. They want to make an issue of boycotting Indian products. My question is: can we do without Indian spices?
The leader of the Awami League said that both the BNP rallies in Dhaka have failed recently. The party workers are frustrated; they no longer trust the leaders. That is why BNP workers do not attend their rallies.
BNP leaders are now saying that they will protest when the heat subsides. 15 years have passed like this; how much more time will BNP take? asked Obaidul Quader.
Kader said that a 15 percent VAT imposition is not realistic or logical. There is no such VAT anywhere in the world. However, there are precedents for 5 percent VAT in neighboring countries. I told these words to the leader (Sheikh Hasina). He assured us that we would consider the issue of a rational VAT levy.
