A polls-time government could be formed out of the current administration by the end of October, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
Talking to reporters at his office in Dhaka on Wednesday, Obaidul waved away opposition demands for an independent administration and said the government would be formed after the Election Commission announces the schedule for the 11th national elections.
“Rather than forming a new administration, the incumbent government would take charge as the polls-time government with a smaller Cabinet,” he said.
Obaidul, who is also the Awami League general secretary, dismissed a threat from the main opposition BNP to launch a movement demanding an impartial government to oversee the next general election.
"BNP is not prepared to launch such a movement, and people will not respond to their call," he said.
"If BNP stays away (from the election), it does not mean the poll will be unilateral. Many other parties will participate in the poll, and it will be an inclusive one."
Obaidul questioned the consistency of the position taken by the BNP in recent elections.
“Why is BNP afraid of taking part in the national polls when the party was participating in the local government elections, like the city corporation polls?” he asked.
Separately, the minister said all the problems of roads and highways would be "resolved rapidly."
“People had comfortable journeys during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays,” he said, adding that similarly they were also taking preparations for the people’s safe journey during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays.