BNP Has No Space To Make Any Request: Quader

The ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday (November 30) said that the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party had kept no room to make any request to the government as the date for nominations submission ended on the day.

‘BNP has kept no room to make any request to the government. They have boycotted the polls. Today was the last date for submitting nomination papers,’ said Quader while talking to reporters at a briefing at the AL president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s political office in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

Asked about the United Nations denial to send observers during the 12th parliamentary polls on January 7, he said that it was a matter of the United Nations whether they would send observers.

Obaidul, however, claimed that about 100 election observers groups were willing to send observers during the elections.

Replying to a question about the possible US economic sanctions on Bangladesh, Quader, also the road, transports and bridges minister, asked why the US would impose sanctions against Bangladesh as the government was adamant to hold free, fair and peaceful elections.

‘The BNP is attempting to foil elections through conducting arson attacks. Sanctions should be imposed on those who are trying to foil the elections,’ he added.

He said that they also wanted the same as the European Union wanted free, fair and participatory elections.

Asked about the AL’s reaction about the Jatiya Party chief patron and leader of the opposition in parliament Rawshan Ershad’s decision of not joining the polls, he said that it was her personal decision; but the Jatiya Party was joining in the polls.

AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, its joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and office secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were present at the briefing.