Communication Minister Obaidul Quader is not ready to say the election has not been acceptable. “It can be said that the election has not been acceptable to all,” was all that he was ready to concede while talking to reporters after a meeting at the party chief’s Dhanmandi office on Tuesday.
He also blamed the BNP-led Opposition alliance for falling short of universal acceptance. A total of 153 MP candidates had been elected uncontested in as many seats amid the boycott of the election by the Opposition alliance.Polling was held at 147 seats of which the Awami League won 104. Having been elected uncontested in 127 seats, the party has now 231 seats, a clear two-third majority.
The United Nations, the USA, the UK and Canada, and the Commonwealth have expressed dismay at the low voter turnout and a walkover in more than half of all 300 seats.
The United Nations and others are now expecting that a fresh election will be held with the participation of all parties by ending their difference through dialogue.
Obaidul Quader said dialogue can be held with the BNP but they must eschew violence. The government will adopt tough measures if violence were to continue, the minister warned the Opposition.
The Awami League’s ally Jatiya Party has emerged as the second largest party in the absence of the BNP.
Asked about the stance of Jatiya Party, which had been part of the poll-time government, he said, “They are no more with the Grand Alliance. They left it.”
On Monday, Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, however, said the Jatiya Party would be with the Grand Alliance, though it had decided on quitting two months ago.
Jatiya Party chief Hussein Muhammad Ershad had announced boycott of the elections just a day after his party filed nominations for the polls.-bdnews24.com
