Awami League General Secretary Obaudul Quader on Thursday expressed his hope that elections of the two city corporations in capital Dhaka will be free, fair and acceptable.
“Different parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are participating in the city polls scheduled for January 30. We are welcoming BNP in the election and assuring that the election will be free, fair and credible one. This is what Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina wants”, Obaidul Quader, also the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, said.
He came up with the remarks while addressing a reunion programme, organised by Dhaka University Political Science Department Alumni Association (DUPDAA) at TSC auditorium.
He hoped that the election will be competitive one as saying that no matter who wins or loses. It will not be a big disaster for the government if we lose.
“All assistances will be provided to the Election Commission from the government so that the EC can exercise full of its authorities independently”, he added.
Quader said it is very common to have dissent in politics, but unfortunately, intolerance is increasing in our country’s politics. Politicians, nowadays, talk like the reckless drivers and poison like formalin is coming out from their words.
Quader called upon politicians to build bridge of relationship among them and come back from the culture of polarised and divisive politics and come back to healthy politics saying they are making wall of intolerance instead of making bridge of relationship.
“We have to restore the process and need to build social, cultural and political bridges to reduce the culture of polarization,” he added.
Talking about the under construction Metro Rail through the DU campus, Quader said, Metro Rail service will not hamper academic atmosphere, rather the station was set up here to facilitate the students. “It is an environment friendly project and is being developed using the latest technology”.
A total of six Metro rail projects will be implemented in the city and the scenario of Dhaka will be changed by the year of 2013, said Quader.
Recalling his own illness, Quader Quader paid gratitude to all of his well-wishers as saying, “I entered second phase of my life. It came back from such a condition miraculously and it happened because all of your prayer and love.
Former MP Nazmul Haque Prodhan, former Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United States Mr. M. Humayun Kabir, former Secretary Mahmudul Hasan, former president of DUPDAA Rezaul haq Choudhwry, among others, attended the occasion. DUPDAA president Mizanur Rahman was in the chair.