Quader calls for ACC probe into Khaleda’s ‘Saudi assets’

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged the Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC to take legal steps after investigating BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her family’s ‘assets in Saudi Arabia’.

He made a comment at party chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office on Saturday after the BNP asked for Hasina’s apology for her comments on the issue.

“I urge the ACC to take proper legal action against the Zia family after investigating them smuggling the people’s money abroad, including to Saudi Arabia,” Quader said.    

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On Thursday, Hasina expressed displeasure at a media conference over the coverage of Khaleda’s ‘Saudi assets’ only by a few media outlets.  

"You (journalists) will scramble on the report if it relates to me,” she said.

Claiming that the reports are ‘false and imaginary’, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday threatened Hasina with legal action if she would not withdraw her comments and apologise.

Quader told reporters on Saturday: “The prime minister dares to speak the truth. Sheikh Hasina hasn’t said anything without information and evidence.”

“What I have to say to the BNP secretary general is that the use of abusive language in his speech in reaction to the prime minister’s comments has revealed the BNP’s true face,” he added.

Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister, also said the BNP started to ‘blabber’ after ‘sensing that they are going to be prosecuted in more corruption cases’.