Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said sending or not sending election observers is a matter of the United Nations.
“Hundreds of observers will come [to Bangladesh] despite much confusion about the election. We are not worried about this [UN’s decision not to send observers],” Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League, told journalists at the party office in Dhanmondi.
Quader said that Raushan Ershad's decision not to take part in parliamentary polls is her personal decision. “But her party is taking part in the polls. It is not a matter of boycotting elections.”
Regarding the 14-party alliance, Obaidul Quader said there is an opportunity to distribute seats through negotiations with the alliance. The alliance was also not dissolved. Alliance leaders were not disappointed. There is still an opportunity for the allocation of parliamentary seats.
Terming the participation of Trinamool BNP and Jatiya Party in the election a surprise, he said: “We will have to wait till the election for more surprises.”
He also said that the European Union (EU) wants free and fair elections, and the Awami League wants the same.
“I believe that US Ambassador Peter Haas should not be on the side of any political party.”
Peter Haas’s activities should be limited to what is required as an ambassador, added Quader
The United Nations on Wednesday said it will not send any observers to monitor the 12th national parliamentary elections of Bangladesh.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General António Guterres, said that the UN does not observe elections without a specific mandate.
