Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said that Awami League does not pay heed to visa policies and restrictions.
“Those aiming to obstruct or create doubts around elections might be the ones impacted by such visa policies and restrictions,” he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from Singapore.
“It is important to observe the actual execution of these policies,” he said adding that Awami League desires a smooth, neutral, and transparent election.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly confirmed this,” he remarked.
The bridges minister stated that the people of Bangladesh will exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general election.
“The responsibility of election oversight lies with the Election Commission. The matter of sending international observers rests with them,” he said.
“There are protocols for sending observers to a certain country, and the Vienna Convention is there for this,” he added.
The Awami League general secretary said there is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in safeguarding democracy on the leadership front.
In response to journalists' questions about whether BNP would participate in elections without a caretaker government, Obaidul Quader said: "Will elections take place at the BNP's whim?"
“BNP seems not keen on elections. If they want to boycott polls, they can. But Awami League wants competitive elections,” the Awami League leader remarked.
“Deciding to participate in the election or refrain from it is BNP's right. However, any conspiracy against the election process will face public resistance,” he added.
The bridges minister further said that there is no logical basis for a caretaker government in Bangladesh and that the High Court nullified it.
Quader, referring to the BNP, asked why they are pushing towards conflict.
“Elections in Bangladesh will proceed as they do in other democratic countries worldwide,” he added.