Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said the Awami League government does not want a normal general election to be held in the country as it has lost confidence in itself.
"The EVM is a machine for peaceful vote-rigging. After losing confidence in itself, the government does not want normal elections," he said.
Speaking at meeting with the National Medical Technologist Council at the Banani office auditorium of the Jatiya Party chairman, GM Quader also said all parties, except the government and some of its allies, are against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections.
"But the Election Commission (EC) has suddenly decided to conduct the elections through EVMs. It's now saying the election will be held through ballots if all parties want," he added.
The Jatiya Party chief said the election through ballot papers is acceptable to all.
About the EC's decision to install closed-circuit television cameras in the polling stations, he said if the intention is not good, nothing will turn out to be good: "The EC should work with good intention."
Referring to the ongoing political violence, GM Quader said, the violence will escalate further if the election is not held in a free and fair and acceptable manner as the next poll will be a "fight for existence."
He said the political culture of the country has reached a point where everyone considers their opponent as an enemy. "Everyone thinks that the losers will be killed and eliminated. We don't want such a political culture."
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said their party wants every party to get the scope for politics and working together for the welfare of the country and people.
He said they also want the government to organise a peaceful election through discussions with the political parties as politics of intolerance will not bring anything good for anyone.
Saying that people are going through serious ordeals to cope with skyrocketing prices of daily essentials, he called upon the government to take steps for lowering their prices.