The government will not interfere in the upcoming Dhaka City polls, rescheduled for Feb 1, says Roads Transport Minister Obaidul Quader.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given a clear message to ensure a free, fair and neutral election for the Dhaka North and South city corporations,” he told a party programme in Dhaka on Sunday (Jan 26).
Referring to the PM's instruction to law enforcement agencies, Quader quoted her as saying, “I, too, want no intervention or excess measures in the polls. No agency must intervene to any extent.”
According to Quader, the prime minister wouldn’t wish for forced public support if the people don’t vote for her party after “that much development.”
“She [Hasina] has given the same instruction to partymen. She wants us to campaign door to door and keep faith in people’s mandate,” he said before adding the instruction would restrain the government from intervention in polls.
Ruling out BNP’s allegation of using the government bodies for the ruling party’s candidates, Quader said, “They [BNP] have a permanent representative at Election Commission, so their claim is invalid.”
Claiming the people want Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League in power despite BNP’s propaganda, he said, “BNP foresaw their standings ahead of the polls.
"They are complaining over different issues now as they are sure about their defeat,” he added.