Ministers of the polls-time cabinet on Sunday said holding a free, fair and credible election in time with the participation of all is the key aim of the interim administration.
Some of them said the upcoming election will be acceptable even amid boycott by the main opposition BNP if majority people take part in the election.
“It’s not the prime issue to see whether any party participates in the election or not. Rather, it’s important to take into consideration the turnout of the voters in the election,” Land, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Amir Hossain Amu said this while talking to reporters at his secretariat office.
Voicing the interim government’s firm determination to hold the election in due time, Amu said the polls will be held, no matter whether BNP boycotts it or not.
Replying to a query from reporters at the secretariat, Posts and Telecommunication Minister Rashed Khan Menon also said, “The election will definitely be acceptable if majority people take part in it (even if BNP boycotts the election.”
He said a consensus would be there through discussion and urged the political parties to join the polls.
“There’s no scope for vote rigging as there’s vibrant and free media, transparent ballot boxes and voter ID cards,” he said adding people will ultimately decide the future government.
Industries, Housing and Public Works Minister Tofail Ahmed said the Prime Minister has formed the election-time government to hold a free, fair and credible election in the country extending all-out support to the Election Commission.
“Holding a peaceful election with the participation of all maintaining democratic continuity is the key aim of this polls-time government,” he said during a meeting with the senior officials of the Industries Ministry.
Echoing Amu and Menon’s views, Tofail Ahmed also said BNP will take part in the election.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said the interim government will not take any policy decision but will do the routine works.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Ruhul Amin Hawlader expressed optimism that the ongoing political crisis over the polls-time government will be resolved through dialogue among political parties.
He also hoped that BNP and its like-minded parties will also join the polls.
The 10th parliamentary polls have to be held by January 24 as per the constitution.
Over the tenure of the new cabinet, Health and Family Welfare Minister Rawshan Ershad told the reporters that “We (new ministers) joined here (new cabinet) for a few days. We won’t stay for long time except holding of election.
Besides, State Minister for Women and Children Affair Salma Islam and Railway, Religious Affairs Minister M Mujibul Haque joined their offices for the first day.
Source: UNBConnect
