Ruling Awami League (AL) will consider Jatiya Party's demand on the Rangpur-3 constituency if the Opposition wants to contest the by-polls from AL-led Grand Alliance, said General Secretary Obaidul Quader.
“JP contested in the last election for the seat from the AL-led alliance, but now JP is the Opposition party in the House. If the party wants to participate in the by-polls independently, it is their matter,” BSS quoted Quader as saying.
“But if they want to contest from the alliance, AL will consider it,” he told reporters at his Secretariat office on Thursday (Sept 12).
Quader, who is the road transport minister, said no discussion has been held in this regard yet, noting that AL has selected a candidate to contest the Rangpur-3 by-polls.
The Rangpur-3 constituency fell vacant following the death of JP chairman HM Ershad. Jatiya Party has nominated Saad Ershad, son of HM Ershad, in the by-election.
About toll collection from the country’s highways, Quader said preliminary discussion for toll collection is yet to be held and that is why there is no scope to talk about it now.
Blaming BNP, he said the party has no experience of building roads and highways. “When BNP was in power, there was no four-lane road in the country.
They were far behind thinking about mega projects like Padma Bridge and metro rail,” the road transport and bridges minister added.
BNP leaders clearly know that toll collection system prevails in many countries across the world, but they are now doing hypocrisy over the issue, Quader said.