Govt works to make electoral system more democratic: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said the ruling Awami League government is working to make the country's electoral system more democratic and modernised.

"The best way to express the people's opinion is election, and the Awami League government is working to make the electoral system more democratic and modernised," he told a press conference at his official residence here this morning, reports BSS.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said the AL is firmly committed to establishing a state system based on democratic values? inspired with the spirit of the Liberation War.

"And the government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is respectful to the opinion that people express through democratic process," he said, reiterating that the people are the source of the AL's strengthen.

Quader said only the Awami League government - from Bangabandhu to Sheikh Hasina - improved the country's electoral system, while the Sheikh Hasina government freed the shackled democracy.

As there is democracy in the country, the BNP leaders are blindly criticising the government, creating storm in the media, getting more time than the proportion in parliament and delivering statements in parliament and outside, he said.

The AL general secretary said: "We don't want to learn democracy from BNP. Violating people's rights, voter-less elections, yes-no vote, 1.5 crore fake voters, arson terrorism and institutionalisation of graft are found at the roots of BNP's democracy."

As the popularity of the Sheikh Hasina government has increased after the Padma Bridge inauguration, the BNP leaders have been suffering from mental agony, he said, adding that the frustrated BNP leaders are now talking perplexed to get relief from their pain.

Responding to a statement of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Quader asked the BNP to join the next polls as it will be held in time following the constitutional obligation.

The polls will prove whether the people are in favour of positive politics or negative politics, he added.

"Will the people of Bangladesh vote for development, or will they vote for those who looted public money?" he questioned.

The AL general secretary said the BNP leaders, who have been suffering from election panic, are now talking various things to make the elections questionable.

Replying to another statement of Mirza Fakhrul that if the election-time government is a neutral one, the BNP's participation in it will be visible, Quader said: "What is the standard of neutrality in your view? ...once the BNP chief said there is no neutral person in the country except the children and the mad."

The country's people know as long as the BNP's path to power is not secure and it does not get guaranty of winning the elections, the standard of their neutrality will not be ensured, he said.

The AL general secretary said the BNP's intention to assume power through the back door is the main obstacle to holding a fair election.