Dhaka: Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday reiterated his call to withdraw the nationwide transport strike, saying a force could hardly yield any positive result as reflected in today's nationwide hartal called by several political parties.

"Hardly hartal had any visible impact today-- shops remained open, no picketing were seen anywhere, city lives passed normally and everything was normal," Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said at a discussion held at the Engineers Institution Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka.

Dhaka City (South) Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) organized the function to mark the end of February that takes pride for a special day- 'Ekushey February' and the International Mother Language Day observed together on February 21 each year.

Obaidul Quader said mass people have nothing to do with the court verdicts that held two bus drivers responsible for two major road accidents last week. He termed the transport strike 'illogical' and asked concerned people to withdraw the obstruction immediately.

The minister also referred to today's hartal supported by BNP and said "Hartal is no more a weapon to realize demands." He also questioned: why the general masses will suffer from such strikes?

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, criticized opposition leaders for their 'hypocrisy' and said "you people have called hartal but didn't took to the streets and passed leisure time at home enjoying Hindi serials." "This is simply a mockery."

The transport minister also reminded people to maintain road safety etiquette and said some people even cross busy roads while talking over mobile phones. This is ridiculous, he said questioning "When passengers and drivers both are reckless, who can resist road accidents?"

In this context, he urged all to behave properly and take self responsibilities to avoid road accidents. He also urged Chhatra League leaders and workers to motivate and assist people to follow traffic rules. The good works can brighten the image of the Chhatra League, he reminded.

Dhaka City (South) BCL president Bayezid Ahmed Khan chaired the function, which was also addressed, among others, by central BCL president Saifur Rahman Shohag and its general secretary SM Zakir Hussain.