DHAKA, Nov 5, 2018 (BSS) – Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will disclose the outcome of dialogues with political parties by holding a press conference.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will disclose the outcome and summary of the dialogues with the political parties through a press conference. It could be held on November 8 or 9,” he told a press conference at the ministry conference room at the Secretariat.
Quader said three persons have been given the task of making the summary of the dialogues with political parties and alliances. “The prime minister will hold the press conference after the end of talks,” he added.
About the general election, the minister said the government is in a stable mood. “We are ready to take part in the national election. If any political party tries to thwart the election, the conspiracies will be dealt with a strong hand,” he added.
The AL general secretary said some demands of the Jatiya Oikyafront have been met through the dialogue. When another discussion will be held in a limited scale, more demands could be met, he added. The minister said if the election schedule is declared on November 8, many things will not remain under the government’s authority.
Quader said if logical proposals are placed in the dialogue, those will be met through talks.
He said: “Oikyafront demanded foreign observers in the election and we have no objection to them coming. But taking decision in this regard is within the jurisdiction of the Election Commission, not the government.”
“Secondly, they demanded a level playing field and we agreed on that,” he added.
He said the prime minister and the ministers will not take any additional advantage except security during the election period.
The premier and other ministers will not use the national flag in vehicles and the prime minister will use only the party flag, he added.
“If the prime minister uses only party flag during polls time, it will be a bigger level playing field,” he added.
Quader said the election schedule will be announced on November 8. So, there is no scope to go beyond the Constitution, he added.
Asked about whether the parliament would be dissolved or not before the election, the minister referred to the examples of India and the UK which do not need to dissolve parliament for holding election.
He said Jukto Front demanded that the parliament be kept inactive during the election. “We agreed on it. The parliament members will have no authority during election,” he added.