EU wants fair polls: Quader

Staff Reporter :
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the European Union (EU) wants a fair and inclusive election in the country.
He said that his party also wants similar.
“The European Union wants to see a participatory national election. Awami League also wants a good, fair election that will be free of issues. However, BNP is trying to use tactics out of fear of losing the election,” Obaidul Quader said at a briefing after a meeting with heads of missions of European countries in Dhaka this morning.
The EU diplomats met the Awami League general secretary as part of EU’s engagement with political parties ahead of the parliamentary election.
Representatives from seven European Union countries were present at the meeting.
He however, said that BNP is attempting to come to power “relying on arson attacks, terrorism and through destabilising the country,” Quader added, “BNP does not believe in dialogue. They did not participate in dialogues with the president and the Election Commission.”
Awami League does not follow anyone’s orders; rather it only goes by the constitution, he added.
“The BNP goes to embassies secretly, without informing anyone, but Awami League has come after being invited,” he said,
The minister said also that meaningful discussions were held on various issues including election and international trade.
He said that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The upcoming national polls will be credible, fair and free. The Election Commission will play an independent and authoritative role. Sheikh Hasina’s government will provide all kinds of support to the Election Commission for conducting acceptable polls.”