Visa restriction or sanction can’t stop polls: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the national election of Bangladesh cannot be stopped by sanction or visa restriction.

“We do not interfere in affairs of other countries and do not want interference of foreign countries in our election. We have an independent Election Commission,” said Quader.

The Awami League general secretary said this while addressing a peace rally held at Adarsha High School Ground at Mirpur-10 in the capital.

“In which country parliament gets dissolved before elections? Then why should we do that in Bangladesh? We have a constitution. We will continue as per the constitution. We will not run our country at anyone’s instruction,” said Quader.

“You can send people to monitor the election. The people of the country have trust in the electoral process. Don’t get confused by the BNP’s words about election,” he said, pointing towards foreign observers.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said many BNP leaders are secretly preparing for the elections in secret.

“The BNP will also participate in the next national elections. Many other parties  will join too,” he said.

“No matter how much the BNP conspires, elections will be held in this country, ” Quader further said.

He also claimed that the BNP had appointed lobbyists to question the upcoming election as they know that they will lose if they contest it.