Obaidul Quader raises question about TIB observation

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader has raised a question about the observation of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

Pointing out that TIB has turned into a branch of BNP, Quader said 28 parties are participating in the election this time, while a few political parties, including BNP, are not joining it.

“TIB is now saying that if BNP does not participate in the election, it will not be participatory. I want to know from TIB what does the participatory election mean? TIB and BNP are speaking in the same tone,” he said.

Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the remark while speaking at a press conference at AL President’s Dhanmondi political office on Friday afternoon.

“We cannot give anyone the guarantee of victory. I am the AL general secretary and I also have no guarantee of winning. I too have to fight with four people. If one of them wins, I have to accept it. There will be win or defeat here. There will be competition,” he said.

He said the AL’s alliance partners have nothing to be satisfied or dissatisfied as everyone can choose own symbol in the election.

All of them have the opportunity to participate in the election with their respective symbols and there is no restriction to this end, he said.

About Jatiya Party, Quader said, Jatiya Party will contest in the election with their own symbol but some candidates from the 14-party alliance will be given boat symbol.

About the Victory Day programme, he said: “Our program will begin through placing of wreaths at the Savar National Memorial. A discussion will be held on December 17. A victory procession will be brought out in Dhaka on December 18. Victory processions will be held simultaneously across the country on that day.”

AL Organising Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam and Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Biplab Barua, Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan and Executive Member Sahabuddin Faraji were, among others, present at the press conference.