It's not minister’s duty to announce voting day: Quader

A day after finance minister AMA Muhith hinted at the date for holding the next parliamentary polls on 27 December, ruling Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said it is not the duty of a minister to announce the voting day.

“Even if it is certain that the elections will be held on 27 December, it's not our responsibility to make such announcement. The election commission will announce the date. It is not our job to embarrass the EC,” Obaidul Quader said.

The AL general secretary gave his reaction to Muhith's 'announcement' talking to newsmen after a meeting at the AL's central office at Bangabandhu Avenune in the city.

Obaidul Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said, “If we play our due role within our jurisdiction, it is good for the country, democracy and the government.”

Muhith reflected on the most likely election date when newsmen on Wednesday sought his comments on the next general elections.

Also about the finance minister’s announcement that the poll-time government would be formed within next 20 days, AL general secretary said it is the discretion of the prime minister to say when the such government would really be formed and who would be there.

“Prime minister Sheikh Hasina alone knows it. I even as the general secretary of the party don’t know it,” he added.

Asked if the AL would be part of the national unity process initiated by Kamal Hossain, Badruddoza Chowdhury and Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Quader termed it ridiculous and said there could be no national unity without the AL, its supporters and voters.

"Some kind of national unity is never possible without Awami League," he said, adding that a communal unity may be forged. “Can a national unity be forged bypassing the Awami League?” Quader asked.

He claimed that the AL has no history of irregularities and vote rigging.

The AL leader further alleged that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had gone to power through vote rigging.

About the intra-party rivalry, Obaidul Quader said there is a deviation of party discipline at the local level as everyone wants to be member of parliament (MP) through unhealthy competition.

The grassroots leaders, he said, have been asked to stop 'suicidal activities'.

Obaidul Quader pointed out that a section of AL leaders holds meeting at tea stalls, and campaigns against another party leader or section. "Such activities should have been carried out targetting the opposition party," he noted.

The AL leader insisted that the party would nominate its candidates for the upcoming polls on the basis of public opinions.