DHAKA,  – Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today urged BNP to participate in the upcoming upazila parishad elections.

“I would like to call upon the BNP to consider for taking preparation to participate in the upazila parishad elections. Please, take part in the elections…it will be free and fair. We will provide all necessary support from the government,” he said.

The AL general secretary came up with the call at a press briefing at the Secretariat here. Noting that BNP’s participation in the polls would make it a competitive one, Quader urged the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) from Jatiya Oikyafront to swear in, saying if they place any logical proposal in the parliament, the government will consider it properly.

Reiterating that the government has already got acceptance worldwide, he said: “US President Donald Trump sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, wishing continuation of the government”.

About the prime minister’s invitation to political parties for joining a tea party, the AL general secretary said the prime minister has invited all the political parties, who took part in the 11th parliamentary elections, to join a tea party on February 2. But, he said, it is not a dialogue at all.

“But why they (BNP) would not join the tea party…we do not understand it,” he said. The reaction of BNP leaders over the invitation was not come in a decent manner, Quader said, adding it is the continuation of their negative
politics.

Referring to Ganoforum’s decision over joining the parliament, he said: “It is a good decision. A strong opposition party is an urgent for a stronger democracy”.