People rejected BNP for its negative politics: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that people have rejected BNP in the local body elections for its negative politics.

"Like the elections, people will also reject BNP's movement," Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, came up with the remarks while addressing a press conference at the party President Sheikh Hasina's political office at Dhaka's Dhanmondi this noon.

BNP today rejected the results of Barisal and Rajshahi city corporation elections and announced to hold nationwide agitation programme on Thursday demanding re-election to the two cities.

"I am not sure whether BNP leaders and activists would take to the streets on that day responding to the call of their party," Quader said.   

Citing results of the recently held city corporation elections, Quader said his party has gained victory in four cities while BNP in one, which means four out of five people have accepted Awami League's development oriented politics.

In his party's formal reaction, Quader said that BNP has staged drama in the name of participating in the three city corporation elections held yesterday.

BNP participated in the elections as part of its blue-print to make the elections questionable and controversial, but the people foiled its evil attempt, he said.

Citing BNP's demand for re-election in Rajshahi and Barisal cities, Quader said, "Why BNP does not raise a demand for re-election in Sylhet city?"

"They neither reject the result of Sylhet city polls nor demand re-election," he said.        

The Awami League leader also welcomed Ariful Haque Chowdhury, BNP mayoral candidate in the Sylhet City Corporation, as he took a lead by 4,626 votes based on results of 132 polling centres out of 134.

"The BNP candidate won in the Sylhet city polls due to our organisational weakness. Now, we want to know whether Ariful wants re-election in the city," Quader said.

About the upcoming national election, Quader said it will be held at the right time according to the constitution.

Scopes, nature and power of the election-time government will be lessened and it will not be able to participate in any policy making, Quader said.

The Election Commission (EC) will be the only administration having the responsibility of creating a level playing field for the political parties contesting in the election and the government will have nothing to do in this regard, Quader said.

In this context, it is BNP's own matter whether the party will participate in the election, the Awami League leader said.  

"But, we believe other political parties would participate in the election even if BNP doesn't do so," he added.