BNP-led alliance leaders not responding to their own blockade, shutdowns: Quader

The BNP-led alliance leaders are not responding to their own call for blockade and shutdowns, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader claims.

“How will people respond to the call for blockade and shutdowns when those who called those themselves not responding?” he asked during his visit to a project in Gazipur on Friday.

Those who had been calling shutdowns were running their own businesses, including transport services in Dhaka City as well as on long routes, he said.

“Now the picture of blockade and shutdowns has changed. No shop remains closed during shutdowns. Traffic is also normal,” Quader said.

“Even the highways are witnessing gridlocks."

The minister was speaking to reporters after visiting the construction of Mawna footbridge as part of the project to develop the two-lane Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway to four-lane.

He said the entire project would complete in June.

The work to build a flyover at Mawna intersection was 96 percent complete, according to the minister.

It would open in the first week of April, he added.

Quader said the Joydebpur-Bhaluka part of the project, overseen by the army, was 76 percent complete and would end in May.