Polls-time Govt: Parties who are in JS can be part of it: Quader

Only those who are in parliament can be the part of the election-time government, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said yesterday.

“The country's parliamentary elections will be held in due time," Quader, also ruling Awami League general secretary, said while talking to journalists at his secretariat office.

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On the question of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation during the elections, he said, “Who will run the country if the prime minister resigns? Will Khaleda Zia come out of the prison to run the country?"

He said the election would be held as per the constitution; the government would be small in size during the elections. “It will be similar to that of other countries in the world."

The AL will win the next election because of its huge popularity in the grassroots, he further said.

Replying to a question, Obaidul said, "It is not right to hold the position of the party chief if you have been sentenced for corruption."

The minister said, "When the BNP is given permission to hold a rally, they will say the government has given the permission due to their pressure."

"If the party is denied permission, then they will say there is no democracy in the country. Now you say what the government will do?"

“In the last nine years, did they [BNP] show any huge public gathering for nine minutes? Now people are in election mode, not in the mode to wage a movement. People are now happy with the development activities of the government," said Quader.

Asked about the bad road condition, the minister said the departments concerned were doing extensive development work.

After 3-4 months, you will see there will be no problem, he added.