HM Ershad & Obaidul Quader
A key minister and the Jatiya Party chief today insisted that BNP does not have any alternative to taking part in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Both Communications Minister Obaidul Quader and JP Chairman HM Ershad, while addressing separate events in the capital, expressed optimism that the main opposition would finally participate in the polls.
“BNP leaders and activists across the country are eagerly waiting for the election. I believe BNP has no option other than joining the polls,” Quader, a presidium member of the ruling Awami League, said while inaugurating an overpass at Fatepur level crossing on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Feni, according to Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
Referring to opposition’s condition for a non-party polls-time government, he said: “Conditional dialogue does not turn meaningful.”
Open minds are very urgent for talks, he said.
Referring to opposition’s Friday threat to paralyse the country, Quader said, “There is no solution in undemocratic behaviour and violence.”
Addressing a rally of the 18-party opposition alliance yesterday, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they would cripple the country from the moment the EC announces the polls schedule with the non-party government in place.
Saying the path of democracy is the path of peace, Quader said: “We still hope that BNP will join the polls-time government.”
The task of the all-party polls-time government is to assist the Election Commission in holding a meaningful and acceptable election, he added.
“We want a competitive election with the participation of the main opposition party. For this, the prime minister called for a secretary level dialogue between the two parties,” the minister further said.
Meanwhile, pointing out that he changed his mind and decided to participate in the parliamentary election, Ershad observed that the BNP would also have to do the same.
“I have decided to go for election. What did I do wrong?” the former military ruler said addressing BNP while attending a gathering of Jatiya Jubo Sanghati, JP’s youth wing, in front of his party headquarters at Kakrail in the capital.
He claimed that he decided to take part in the elections because he did not want the politics of calling hartals and confrontation.
Source: The Daily Star
