Staff Reporter:
The government is not in the slightest discomfort over the statement of the United States about the 7 January parliamentary election, said Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday.
In a statement, Washington has recently said the 12th parliamentary polls were not free or fair.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said this at a press conference at the Awami League president’s office at Dhanmondi in the capital.
“We have a relationship with the United States. We are patient enough to make the relationship better. And US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas talked about taking the relationship with Bangladesh forward,” he said.
“BNP’s non-participation in the election was part of a conspiracy against the country’s sovereignty. Even after the election, the BNP-led evil forces are trying to make the election controversial,” said the Awami League leader.
“There were local and foreign forces in play to install an unelected individual in power in an undemocratic way.”
“Sheikh Hasina has proved that an election is possible under an elected government. If the BNP had participated in this election, it would have been more competitive. However, the election was not voter-free and uncontested in their absence,” he said.
Regarding BNP’s being quiet, Quader said, “They [BNP] are now gathering strength for major violence. I want them to return to positive politics.”
He added, “We do not have time to waste on the crisis. Those in responsible positions should talk about responsibility.”
Awami League organising secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, among others, were present at the press conference.
