The Awami League (AL) has hailed the BNP’s decision to join the by-polls to the Rangpur-3 parliamentary seat, vacated after the death of Jatiya Party founder and deposed military dictator HM Ershad.
“BNP boycotted many elections but the party is now saying that it will take part in all elections– from local government to national election. We welcome them (BNP leaders). They have joined the parliament which is a positive thing,” BSS quoted AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader saying on Tuesday (Sept 10).
The voting slated for Oct 8 would be a free, fair and competitive, he said while speaking to the media in Gazipur.
Quader, the road transport minister, made the remarks after visiting the works of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway near Tongi Bazar in Gazipur, according to the BSS report.
“Jatiya Party is contesting in the by-polls. We are also on the race and BNP is taking part in the election. We hope this by-election will be a free, fair and competitive one,” he said.
He assured that the government would provide all-out support to the Election Commission in holding the by-polls.
On imposing the toll for using the national highways, the minister said it was a global practice. “Repair and maintenance works must be conducted on the highways that the people have been using. Where does the money of road repair come from?” he asked.