Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader expressed the hope that the upcoming upazila parishad (UZ) election will be a competitive and participatory one as many parties will take part in it, report agencies.
The AL leader made the comments while talking to journalists after visiting the party's nomination distribution for UZ polls at the AL president's Dhanmondi political office.
"Upazila parishad elections are local government polls. Naturally, local government election witnesses participation of a large number of candidates.
So, even If BNP does not join it, many parties will participate in the polls," he said.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said there will be very little chance of winning the polls uncontested.
About BNP's participation in the polls, Quader said BNP officially announced the party's decision not to join any polls under the AL government.
But ward level leaders of BNP have submitted nomination papers for election to the posts of ward councillor in Dhaka north and south city corporations, Quader claimed saying though the polls to councillor posts will be held on non-party basis, they are in the election.
"It cannot be said that BNP is not in the political field entirely. The party leaders can submit nomination papers as independent candidates in the upazila election," he said.
The AL general secretary said now BNP is a scattered and perplexed party following its massive defeat in the December 30 national election.
"BNP now can't decide what they should do or should not," he observed.
Referring to BNP's threat to wage a movement, Obaidul said, "Despite having a number of issues to wage a movement, BNP earlier failed to wake up people. But, now they want to wage a movement when there's no issue."
He said the two Gono Forum leaders, who won in the general election, might defy orders from their alliance to take oath of office.
"Two MPs from the Oikyafront were barred from taking oath. Will they listen to their leaders? I don't think so," Quader said on Tuesday.
The two Gono Forum MP-elects -- Sultan Mohammad Mansur Ahmed and Mukabbir Khan-were elected in the parliamentary polls with the BNP's 'paddy sheaf' symbol.
