Jatiya Party Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament GM Quader on Saturday expressed doubt about a fair general election under an “authoritarian government”.
“The administration or the constitutional institutions are helpless before an authoritarian government. “So there’re concerns about a fair election under an authoritarian government,” he said at a programme at the party chairman’s Banani office.
A group of women entrepreneurs, led by Nazmin Sultana, the founding president of the voluntary organization “Alokito Manush Foundation”, joined Jatiya Party at the event.
He said that Jatiya Party does not want a farcical election in the country.
GM Quader said the prime minister has already announced that the next national election will be held using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). “If the EVM is not used in all the constituencies, it will be used in the constituencies where the ruling party candidates are unable to openly establish their influence,” he observed.
He said if the Election Commission invited JaPa to join a dialogue, they will take a positive decision through discussions in their party forum.
He, however, said their party is moving ahead with the preparations for contesting the elections in 300 seats.
Replying to a question, GM Quader said that Jatiya Party will decide on joining any alliance in the next elections by considering the pre-polls situation and the expectations of the common people.
“Awami League and BNP have introduced a colonial rule in the country. Administrators were appointed to exploit the people during the colonial period. Administrators were accountable only to the government, not to the common people.”
He alleged that there is no iota of democracy now in the country and administrators have been appointed in all cases. “Politicians have now no authority. So no one is now accountable to the country’s people.”
