Quader: Govt will not pay heed to foreigners when it comes to internal issues

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said any development or issues related to mutual interest can be discussed with foreigners, but no comment will be considered about the internal affairs of Bangladesh. 

He said while briefing reporters ahead of the inauguration of the Agargaon to Motijheel section of the Dhaka metro rail at the ministry's conference room in the Secretariat on Thursday.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement on attacks on the BNP’s rally on Saturday.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary, asked whether any other country takes the advice of Bangladesh. “Do such questions arise during their elections? Why should they talk about our election and why should we listen to them?”

He went on to say that the OHCHR statement is misleading. “They talk about the political issues of Bangladesh without talking about the Israel-Palestine issue. They do not have to think about Bangladesh,” said Quader. 

While responding to a question, he reiterated that the election will be held as per the Constitution of Bangladesh, and the Election Commission will announce the schedule according to the Constitution. “That is not the government's job.” 

Addressing the BNP, Obaidul Quader said the election will not be stopped if the BNP does not contest it. Elections must be held according to the Constitution to keep the democratic process of Bangladesh on the right path. It is wrong to think that there will be no election if a party does not join it.

“There has been no behind-the-scenes discussion about the election with the BNP. Everything the government does is done in the open, not in secret. There can be no dialogue with criminals. The BNP is now a criminal group. There is no question of negotiations with them,” he added.