We are in favour of EVMs: Quader

Speaking about electronic voting machines (EVM), Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said, “We are in favour of using the system to hold the upcoming general election in a free, fair and credible manner.”

At a press conference held at Sylhet Circuit House, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said that his party has nothing to do if BNP does not take part in the upcoming national polls.

“Taking part in election is BNP's right, as Bangladesh is a democratic country. The 'election train', however, will not stop for any party. The polls will be held as per the constitution,” he said.

“BNP is trying to hold an election like the one in 2001…That type of election will not happen again in 2018 on Bangladesh's soil. The system of caretaker government won't come back again,” Quader said regarding BNP's demands.

He said a party which has strength, ability and confidence in the people, does not impose any condition to join national polls.

“BNP has no confidence in people and the party has no strength or capability. Hence they are giving conditions one after another,” he added.

About the meeting of election commissioners on EVMs, Quader said there is democracy in the EC. “If any commissioner does not agree with others on any issue, he has the right to give note of dissent. They will decide what to do,” he said.

AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak; Organising Secretaries Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmad Hossain, Advocate Misbah Uddin Siraj and AKM Anamul Haque Shamim; Office Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap; AL Sylhet city unit President Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran; and AL district unit General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, among others, were present at the press conference.