Bangladesh's Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said that a number of BNP leaders are busy taking secret preparations to run in the election.

He came up with the remarks at a rally organized by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League against the "anti-state conspiracy of BNP-Jamaat" in the capital's Mirpur this afternoon (June 16, 2023).

He said many parties will participate in the election.

Read: Fakhrul must apologise for derogatory remark on election: Obaidul Quader

"There will be no shortage of political parties to join the polls. No matter how BNP conspires, the election will be held in this country," Quader added.

Quader said BNP fears losing in the next election. He said that the election of Bangladesh cannot be prevented by anyone's visa policy and sanctions.

"We do not interfere with anyone so we do not want interference from any foreign country in our elections. We are going to hold the elections as per law. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will remain the head of the government during the elections," he said.

Read: BNP would only say election was fair if AL gets defeated: Quader

Quader said the country's people have confidence about the elections and they will not be confused by BNP's statements over elections.

"The BNP is now holding a road march after getting imbalanced and this road march will finally turn into a fall march," he said, adding that the BNP has no path.

The AL general secretary said BNP has no control over its own party men while its activists became candidates in many city elections ignoring the command of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Read: Participate in election to see whether you even get 10% votes: Information Minister to BNP

"Now many of BNP leaders have started running from here and there to participate in the upcoming national elections," he said.

Among others, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretary Afzal Hossain, Dhaka North City AL president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, general secretary SM Mannan Kochi and Swechchhasebak League president Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu, spoke at the rally.