‘We don’t need to drag BNP to polls’

BNP should come to election of its own accord, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader  has said. “It is not our job to drag them to the polls,” Quader remarked when asked about BNP’s participation in the coming national elections. The ruling party spokesman, also the road transport and bridges minister, talked about the nation’s political future and the party’s visions and problems at length in a recent interview with the Dhaka Tribune at his office. Quader recognised that BNP was a big political party and that it was Awami League’s rival. “Why do we have to bring them to the polls? It is not a chance, it is your right. Why wouldn’t you take part in elections?” he said. “Bangabandhu participated in the 1970 election and Awami League participated all the elections when BNP was in the power, despite the vote rigging,” he argued. The current Election Commission has been selected through a very proper procedure, the minister said, reminding that Awami League was defeated in the Comilla city cooperation elections. But he dismissed BNP’s condition of going to polls under a “supporting government.” “There is no such thing in the constitution. Sheikh Hasina’s government will facilitate the Election Commission. The commission will run the election and ensure level playing field. There is no role for a government,” he said.Party reform neededThe general secretary admitted that there was no hiding the fact that the party is facing many internal problems. “Awami League is a big party. It will not be easy for Awami League to consolidate and reorganise without solving the problems inside,” he said. Centrally however, the party is as solid as a rock, he claimed. “There is a problem of AL leaders in the rural areas but the BNP leaders are fighting in their head office. How will they participate in the national election like that?” he said. Awami League’s key task was to solve the problems of internal feud and “double agents” in the party, Quader said. Awami league will go for a political alliance in the next election, he said. “Parties who are against the last BNP government are now our alliance members. There is no last word in politics, but we hope Jatiya Party will come to our alliance in the next election,” he added. Party’s lawmakers will be assessed on the basis of their performances to decide whether they will be nominated for the next election, Quader said. “Lawmakers involved in activities against the public interest will be dropped from the next election. We will run several surveys on the MPs, six months before the election,” he said. Asked about the party’s thoughts about its future leadership, the general secretary said: “Awami League is an ideological political party. Our ideology is based on the Liberation War and the spirit of Bangladesh.” The future leader of Awami League would have to be a balance between the tradition and the realities of country. ICT Adviser to the Prime Minister Sajib Wazed Joy is yet to be interested in participating in the national election despite a demand from the party’s grassroots, he said.Issues facing the governmentAwami League government’s response to the flood and crisis in the northeastern Haor basins has come under criticism. Quader, however, denied that that there was any negligence in the government’s actions. “From day one of the unprecedented disaster, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed concerned government agencies to take necessary measures including food, clothing and proper medical aid for a year. “There is no lack of goodwill, willingness and sincerity in the government for all types of support to the people of Haor,” he said. Terrorism and militancy cannot be eradicated by the government’s actions alone, the minister said. “The public need to be involved for to counter Islamic militancy and terrorism,” he said. Asked if he anticipated any militant activity ahead of the election, he said: “Look at France, militants attacked ahead of its national election, so it is not unlikely a big attack will happen here ahead of national elections. Islamic militants are now weakened but they are not inactive. “But there is no possibility of attack by militants in the national election if BNP participates in the next election,” he added.UberQuader, the transport minister, said the government was willing to welcome Uber into the transport sector. “Uber has introduced a new technology to the country so we have to own that new technology. Uber’s business model should be included in our law for its proper use. We have held several meetings at our ministry about bringing Uber under a legal framework,” he said.