Dhaka/

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has severely criticized the global human rights report of the United States and said that before criticizing others, make your own democracy free from defects. No country in the world is a democracy without flaws. Even their country is not free of defects.

The general secretary of Awami League also commented that Donald Trump has not accepted defeat in the US presidential election.

He said this on Tuesday at the tri-annual conference of the units of 5 wards of Bangshal and Kotwali police stations of Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami Jubo League at Birshrestha Matiur Rahman school ground in Bangshal of the capital.

According to the US Global Human Rights Report, the 11th National Assembly elections held in Bangladesh in 2018 were not considered free and fair by observers. In that election, the observers believed in the reports of various irregularities, including filling the ballot boxes with seals, agents of the opposition parties and intimidating the voters.

This report titled ‘2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices’ was published on the website of the US State Department on Monday.

Referring to the US human rights report, Obaidul Quader said that democracy in no country in the world is without flaws. Those who talk about the democracy of Bangladesh are not without flaws in their country.

He said that no matter how much BNP complains, the people of Bangladesh will not vote on the words of foreigners.

The bridge minister said that the United States suddenly gave a report that the last election was not free and fair. We block the program of the opposition party. Lack of transparency in elections. My question to the US Department of State, which country in the world democracy is completely free of defects? We are also not 100% perfect. Here we are not completely error free. But what you call error-free, in the 2018 election, other party than Awami League would have won? Do not accept this fact. There are flaws in democracy in every country.

Referring to the last US election, Kader said that former President Donald Trump has not accepted defeat in the US presidential election till date. Before accusing others, forget this? Picture your own home as Donald Trump riots on Capitol Hill against his election, leaving five dead. But we have not forgotten that history.

He said, it took ’15 times’ (votes) to elect the Speaker of your (US) House of Representatives. Votes had to be taken ’15 times’ to elect the Speaker. Democracy is nowhere without flaws.

He also said that the Election Commission of Bangladesh was once under the office of the Prime Minister. The Election Commission has been made independent by law. He claimed that measures have been taken to make democracy free of defects through these posts.

Obaidul Quader said, we are trying. We are not saying that something will happen overnight, we are trying to institutionalize our democracy and electoral system. We are constantly trying. We are gradually eliminating errors, we are reforming, we have enacted the Election Commission Act.

Claiming that the program of the opposition party is not being obstructed, Kader said that there have been so many peace rallies of Awami League, have they been obstructed from any meetings and processions? So why is this complaint being given? There is no basis for this allegation.

He said, BNP has no work now. Hiring lobbyists to complain against Awami League by protesting at the door of foreigners – this is their job.

He also said that BNP has become a divided party. If the vote is fair, Sheikh Hasina will win again. The movement of BNP is stuck in tears. This car of movement will not rise again. There are no people in their movement. Limited to activists. They now resort to conspiracy, sabotage and stealth. BNP is taking that preparation.

Earlier, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams inaugurated the conference. Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Mrinal Kanti Joddar, Dr. Rezaul Kabir, Ehtasamul Hassan Bhuiya Rumi, Rezaul Karim Reza etc.