Next election under EC: Quader

KHAGRACHHARI, Jan 3 (BSS): Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the next general election will be held under the Election Commission (EC), not under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Next polls will be held under the Election Commission (EC), not under Sheikh Hasina", he told journalists after a meeting on "Indo-Bangla Maitree Bridge-1" at Ramgarh here.

Criticising the remarks of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia over the next election, Quader, also ruling Awami League (AL) general secretary, said the BNP chief is trying to blackmail the people fearing her defeat in next polls.

Replying to a query, the minister said seeing the progress of the Padma Bridge construction, Begum Zia started expressing her resentment on this.

About the construction of the India-Bangla Maitree Bridge-1, Quader said the construction work will start in full swing in January.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla was also present there.

"In the last approximately 10 years, there has been unprecedented progress in infrastructural development and connectivity links established between India and Bangladesh," the envoy said.

He said the proposed bridge over the Feni river is a vital link between the peoples of India and Bangladesh. There has been a longstanding demand by the community in Tripura for this connectivity with Bangladesh, he added.

"This bridge over the Feni river will promote trade and tourism and people-to-people contacts between our two countries", Shringla said.

The proposed bridge over the Feni river is being funded by the government of India under grant assistance to Bangladesh and is being constructed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Authority of India (NHIDCL), said an official release of the Indian HC earlier.

The bridge is expected to be completed by April 2020, it read.

The minister visited the site of the bridge in Sonaipul area of Ramgarh here. Local lawmaker Kujendra Lal Tripura, Khagrachari ZIlla Parishad Chairman Kongjuri Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner (DC) M Rashedul Islam, Police Super Ali Ahmed Khan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Al Mamun Mian and Ramgarh Municipality Mayor M Shahjahan Ripon, among others, accompanied the minster.