Nothing to be interested in Donald Lu: Obaidul Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh to hold talks to implementing his own country’s agenda. There is nothing to be interested in it.

Quader made the comments while exchanging views with journalists at the Road Transport and Highways Division conference room at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

“Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh. We don’t care about their visa policy or anything else. He is not even a minister. We didn’t invite him rather he has come to this country because of their different needs. If bilateral relations exist, such visits happen,” he said.

Asked about BNP’s call for strengthening their movement to boycott Indian products during their meeting with allies, the AL general secretary said this is their failed attempt as no BNP leader will boycott Indian products.

About imposing 15 percent value added tax (VAT) on metro-rail fare, the minister said it is not realistic as there is no such instance of imposing 15pc VAT on metro-rail fare in any other country in the world.

Noting that there is instance of imposing 5pc VAT in a neighboring country, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will consider whether there is any logical ground of it in Bangladesh.