DHAKA, Dec 03, 2018 (BSS) – Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the government does not want to win in a one-sided election.
“We want to achieve victory in next polls through competition…Awami League President Sheikh Hasina also doesn’t want to win by holding a one-sided election,” he told reporters at the AL President’s Dhanmondi political office here.
The minister added: “We’ll try so that the level-playing field is not hampered in any way. We don’t want to contest the election by creating an uneven situation”.
The AL general secretary said that they would provide all-out cooperation to the Election Commission (EC) to ensure a level-playing field.
“We want a credible election…we never want to hamper the polls’ atmosphere in any way,” he added.
About BNP’s role in last parliamentary election, Quader said there is less possibility to bring out any untoward situation what was created in absence of BNP in the polls process before.
He hoped that the 11th parliamentary election would be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner as the AL wants inclusive and credible election.
“People will decide where they cast their votes…we don’t want to score the goal in the empty field,” the AL general secretary said.
Replying to a question, Quader said the decision to cancel the nomination papers of some BNP leaders, including party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, is under jurisdiction of the EC.
“The government did not interfere in the polls process earlier and won’t do it in the next polls scheduled to be held on December 30 next.
“The EC had cancelled the candidacy of some individuals on the basis of their rules and the government cannot do anything in this regard,” he said.
Quader said Jatiya Party secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawlader (Patuakhali-1) has been declared disqualified due to loan default and the government cannot do anything in this regard.
He urged the BNP and Oikyafront leaders not to boycott polls sensing their defeat in the next election.
AL Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, and its Central Executive Committee members Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Anwar Hossain were, among others, present.