Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the next election will be held as per the country's constitution, and 'not on the advice of any external force'. 

Obaidul Quader said: "We are not going to the election considering anyone's visa policy or ban. Our focus is on the constitution, and on the people of the country.”

The road transport and bridges minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion at ISKCON Swamibagh Ashram, on the occasion of Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath Dev, at Swamibagh in Dhaka this afternoon. 

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Describing India as a time-tested friend, Quader said Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the US has nothing to do with the politics of Bangladesh. 

“The world is facing a multitude of crises today including war, inflation, and the energy crisis.  We have not discussed with India whether there will be any discussion on Bangladesh (during Modi’s meeting with the US president),” he said. “Nor did we send a proposal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convince Biden.”

Quader said he was not aware whether India had raised any questions on interference in any elections in Bangladesh. 

Also read: Bangladesh not concerned about new US visa policy; we can have our own policy too: Obaidul Quader

The AL general secretary said that for some quarters in Bangladesh, free and fair elections mean Awami League’s defeat. 

During his speech, Quader conveyed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s greetings to the people of the Hindu community.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today extended her greetings and best wishes to the people of Hindu community on the occasion of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. The prime minister said the Awami League always stood by the community in difficult times and will continue to do so in the future,” he said. 

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Addressing the attendees, the Awami League general secretary said: "You should never consider yourself as a minority.” 

“Like others, you are first-class citizens of the country,” he said. 

Awami League Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Al Executive Committee Member Nirmal Chatterjee, Director of Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Bangladesh Mrinmoy Chakraborty and President of Mahanagar Puja Udjapan Committee Manindra Kumar Nath also spoke on the occasion. ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari presided over the discussion.

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