Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said the government will not get involved in the upcoming elections to five city corporations, assuring all that they will be free and fair.
Quader, also general secretary of the ruling Awami League, was addressing a protest rally organized by Dhaka South Awami League over a death threat made recently against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on Tuesday.
“Whether anyone joins [polls] or not, the same trend will continue in the next general election. In fact, the people will take a stand against those who try to foil the election.”
The Awami League leader also urged foreign observers to observe the election. “Come and observe what a free and peaceful election is.”
The BNP wanted conflict, instability, unrest and bloodshed, while the Awami League wanted to institutionalize democracy, he said.
Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam, joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary Afzal Hossain, and Dhaka South Awami League General Secretary Humayun Kabir addressed the rally presided over by Dhaka South Awami League President Abu Ahmed Mannafi.