"Voicebox"

"No one is a better patriot, no one is a better protector of the nation's interests than me."
SHEIKH HASINA
Prime Minister
about the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports which is opposing the government's signing of a production sharing contract with an American oil company.
She has also called them street urchins.

"We will sit with the government to decide who will be the head of non-party caretaker government only when it is necessary. But there is no need now to hold discussion."
BEGUM KHALEDA ZIA
BNP Chairperson
about the constitutional provision of installing a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee general elections remaining legal in spite of the recent Supreme Court verdict.

"We've to be practical. We can't overturn all the establishments even though they are on the wetlands and flood flow zones in breach of law. Such a move will create social unrest."
ABDUL MANNAN KHAN
state minister for Housing and Public Works
about government's compromise on the long-delayed implementation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP)

"I won't resign following their demand….these are all bogus."
AMA MUHITH
finance minister
about Bangladesh Sammilitya Peshajibi Parishad (Combined Professional Council), a pro-BNP professional forum's putting forward a set of eight demands, which included the resignation of the finance minister.

"We have already sent a letter inviting its (BNP's) leaders to join the dialogue. We will have nothing to do if they fail to join the meeting."
ATM SHAMSUL HUDA
chief election commissioner
about not waiting for opposition BNP anymore if it does not join the commission's ongoing dialogue by July 14.

"Bin Laden had a peculiar charisma that I think Zawahri does not have."
ROBERT M GATES
US defense secretary
about Ayman al-Zawahri's becoming the successor of Osama bin Laden as leader of Al Qaeda arguing that his (Zawahiri's) deep flaws are likely to weaken the core of the terrorist network.