Time Digital Report: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the European Union wants the next parliamentary election to be participatory in Bangladesh.

"I have talked to the representatives of seven EU countries. Ahead of the next general election, as the ruling party, we held a meeting with the EU today. They want all parties, including the BNP, to join the next polls," he said.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, was talking to reporters after the meeting with the ambassadors of seven EU countries in Gulshan of the capital.

"We said one thing clearly -- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated in her speech on Wednesday that the next election will be credible, free and fair."

In addition, the Election Commission will play an important role and the government will provide all kinds of support to the commission, Quader said.

"At the same time, we are taking preparations ahead of the next elections," he added.

Asked whether there was any advice on bringing the BNP to the next election, the AL leader said: "We will not listen to anyone's instructions. Our guidelines are our constitution -- which we follow."

He added that the BNP ignored the president's instructions on dialogue and even the EC invited the BNP twice to attend its dialogues but it did not join.

"However, the BNP has always had a disinterest in dialogue. In fact, the BNP is not willing to participate in the general election because they [BNP leaders] know that the Awami League will come to power again under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. So, the BNP is resorting to ill tactics sensing defeat in the elections."