Minister: No foreign power can influence Bangladesh general polls

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque said on Thursday that no matter how powerful the US ambassador or people like him are, they won’t be able to play any role in the next national elections of Bangladesh.

Razzaque was talking to journalists after a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) meeting at the ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat, reports UNB.

Replying to a question, the minister said that foreigners are the country's development partners. The entire world is a global village. Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also the right to hold discussions with them.

“The international community wants our elections to be free and fair. We’ve appointed a new Election Commissioner in this regard. Elections are held under an Election Commission in most of the developed countries. They don’t form any caretaker government during election times. BNP is consistently talking about the formation of a caretaker government, which will never happen,” said Razzaque.

He added that the next general elections will be held according to the current constitution, where there is no mention of a caretaker government.

Razzaque also said that they will welcome any opinion or advice from the international community regarding the next elections.

“BNP is holding discussions with representatives of various states over the last few days. I want to say to BNP that go to the people instead, who will elect their next leaders. It’s the people who have the real power, not the foreigners,” added Razzaque.