AL not worried about voter turnout in elections : Obaidul Quader

Awami League is not worried about voter turnout in the upcoming national elections slated for January 7, party's general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Monday (4 December).

The voters will resist those who will try to obstruct and foil the election, he said at a press briefing at the Awami League president's office in the capital's Dhanmondi this afternoon.

The voters cannot be barred from coming to polling stations by any kind of sabotage. Even the foreign friends have understood that a peaceful atmosphere of the election now exists in Bangladesh, he said.

Regarding boycotting polls by the BNP, Quader said, BNP is boycotting the election as per their own decision. Why will we force them to participate in the election? And Awami League is joining the election following the constitution, he added.

He said, Awami League will not be biased if their candidates whose nominations have been rejected do not survive the appeal.

Quader said Awami League is committed to transfer power to another elected government.

Responding to a question on seat sharing among the allies, the minister said, the Awami League has no problem nominating those who have capacity to win the election.

"If we give nomination to an unfit candidates just because of being our allies, it will be injustice to democracy," Quader added.

The party's December 10 rally is not a counter programme of the BNP, the AL leader said adding, "we will celebrate Human Rights Day on that day and it is our democratic right. So, we have given a letter to the Election Commission to organise a rally on the occasion of Human Rights Day on December 10."

Among others, Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, Sujit Roy Nandi, were also present in the press briefing.

Earlier, Obaidul Quader along with central Awami League leaders attended the namaz-e-janaza of Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury (Dipu), eldest son of party presidium member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya at Bangabandhu Avenue in Gulistan.