Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister
Obaidul Quader today said it is a policy decision of the
Awami League to prevent relatives of ministers and
lawmakers from participating in local government
elections.

“It is a policy decision of Awami League to restrain
relatives of ministers and MPs from contesting local
government elections. There is no legal issue here,” he
said.

Quader was speaking at a press conference organized at
the political office of Awami League President Sheikh
Hasina in the city’s Dhanmondi area.

The AL leader said Awami League did not allot the party’s
electoral symbol to candidates in order to make the
upazila parishad elections more participatory and
competitive.

“This does not mean that other parties cannot allocate
symbols for elections,” he added.

About the United States (US), Quader said Awami League
does not have any conflict with the US, but if telling the
truth hurts their interests, then nothing can be done.

During the Vietnam War, various universities, including
Columbia University in the United States, faced hurdles as
they raised voices against the war, Quader mentioned,
adding that such types of repression are still going on.

“Why has the question of friendship with the United States
been raised for telling the truth?” he said.

AL General Secretary said: “They talk about the human
rights of our country. Can’t we talk about the human rights
situation of their country? Why don’t they see human
rights in their own country, like Bangladesh? We did not
mention that we do not have friendship with them.”

He said, when the opposition wreaks havoc in our
country, journalists are attacked, and the police are beaten
to death, the United States remains silent.”

The AL leader said, like many other countries across the
world, Bangladesh is also facing hurdles due to the Russia-
Ukraine war.

“Bangladesh is not free from the influence of the war.
Import-export, energy, and dollar crisis are related to the
economy. Consequently, we are under pressure,” he
added.

AL Organising Secretaries Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood
Swapon, Mirza Azam and SM Kamal Hossain, Science and
Technology Affairs Secretary Abdus Sabur, Cultural
Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil and Deputy Secretary
Sayem Khan were also present at the press conference.

-BSS.