Mass tide created in favour of ’boat’ : Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday (5 January) said an unprecedented mass tide has been created in favour of 'boat' across the country on the occasion of the 12th national elections to be held on Sunday (7 January).

He remarked while talking to journalists at Dhaka district AL office in the city's Tejgaon this afternoon after a meeting with the election observation delegation of the OIC countries.

Earlier, in the morning, Quader held a meeting with a Commonwealth delegation at Sonargaon Hotel here.

Hoping that the 12th national elections would be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner environment, he said the election means a festival of democracy to the people of Bangladesh and this time it is not an exception.

"Ignoring the severe cold, the people have welcomed the election and taken part in the polls campaign. A mass tide has been created across the country in favour of boat," the AL general secretary said.

He said 28 registered political parties are participating in the 12th general elections while there are 1,970 candidates in 299 seats. "Of them, 436 are independent candidates. A free, fair and participatory election is going to be held," he added.

Mentioning that the Awami League is excited to see a significant number of foreign observers in the polls, Quader said many foreign journalists and observers have already arrived in Bangladesh.

"We are excited seeing that. They will observe a participatory election. We hope that the polls will be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner and they (observers) will present the actual scenario of polls before the world," he said.