Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said Awami League has nothing to do if BNP does not take part in the upcoming general elections.
Obaidul Quader said, “Taking part in election is a right of BNP as Bangladesh is a democratic country. The ‘train of election’ will not stop for any party. The polls will be held as per the constitution.”
“BNP is trying to hold an election like the 2001 polls…That type of blueprint election will not happen again in 2018 on the soil of Bangladesh, ” the Awami League general secretary said, reports BSS.
"The system of caretaker government won’t come back again. The polls will be held as per the constitution,” he said while speaking at a press conference at the Circuit House in Sylhet on Friday.
About the four demands of BNP, Quader said if any party has strength, ability and confidence in country’s people, it doesn’t impose any condition to join polls.
“BNP has no confidence in the people of Bangladesh and the party has no strength and ability. Therefore, they are giving conditions one after another,” he added.
About the meeting of Election Commissioners on EVMs, Quader said there is democracy in the EC. “If any commissioner does not agree with others on any issue, he has the right to give ‘note of dissent’. They will decide what to do,” he added.
He said the EVM is a modern technology. “We are in favour of using the system to hold the upcoming general election in a free, fair and credible manner. I think, the system will play a role to reduce bad impression of common people regarding the polls.”