The next parliamentary election will be held in time in a festive atmosphere, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

Those who failed to depoliticise the country during 1/11 are the ones who are saying that elections would not be held, the minister added.

Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said this in response to a query by journalists while he was speaking at the inaugural programme of Janmashtami procession in Dhaka's Palashi area.

“The next parliamentary session will be the last and after this no parliament member will have any official power. There is no question regarding this,” said Quader, who was the chief guest at the rally.

Quader also warned the Hindu community not to get trapped in the attempt to create communal polarisation in the name of national unity.

He further reminded the Hindu community of the 2001 period when “BNP-led communal forces came into power” and said the situation will be worse if they come back to power.

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon inaugurated the Janmasthami procession. Among others, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Milon Kanti Datta, and its General Secretary Nirmal Kumar Chatterjee also spoke at the programme.