Govt not interfering with Dhaka city polls: Quader

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday said the government is not interfering with elections to the Dhaka south (DSCC) and north (DNCC) city corporations, reports UNB.

“The election commission (EC) is not working at the order of the government. It is working independently,” he told newsmen, responding to Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s allegation of influencing the EC’s work.

The minister said the government is not interfering with the election process. “It never will.”

Quader, also general secretary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, said the people should abide by the order passed by the High Court regarding deferment of the Dhaka city polls. “Elections to the two city corporations will be held on 30 January (as per the court’s order),” he said, requesting demonstrators to call off their protests.

Replying to a question about Bangladesh Chhatra League’s involvement in the protest, he said, “There are members of the Hindu community in the Chhatra League who might have taken part in the movement from their religious point of view.”

When asked whether the EC should have taken the religious issue into consideration, Quader said “Definitely, the EC should have considered it.”

He declined to comment on trying the BNP candidate Ishraque Hossain for corruption. “The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is dealing with the matter. You better ask them.”

Referring to the violation of the electoral code of conduct, the minister said the election commission can take necessary action. “They (the EC) should have been stricter in this regard.”