Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that there is no scope to change the decision regarding independent candidates despite the objections of the political alliances and party candidates.
"There is no alternative to competition. There is no chance of uncontested elections,” he said at a press briefing at the Awami League president's political office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area on Tuesday.
Obaidul Quader said Awami League has no objection to the army performing its duties during the national polls.
He said the BNP has become a threat to the country's election and democracy. “So the country's overall democracy is in crisis.”
“Some people and some parties like BNP defame foreigners to defame the country. BNP's blockade means torching buses, and secret attacks,” the senior leader said.
Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, warned that the national election cannot be foiled through violence, conspiracies, or terrorism.
The army will likely be deployed across the country for 13 days starting December 29 to ensure security before, during, and after the 12th parliamentary elections slated for January 7.
Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, disclosed the information to the media after a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) on Monday.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal chaired the meeting, which was held at the Election Commission headquarters in the capital.
