Awami League is not under any international pressure ahead of the 12th parliamentary election, said the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader.
“Why should we feel pressure? It is our commitment to hold free, fair elections. If you talk about pressure, then it is from our own conscience,” he said at a press briefing on Thursday, shortly after holding a meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas at Awami League central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka.
“We have trade relations with America, we maintain friendly ties. The ambassador of the United States came to our party office. They have never been to our office before. He came, and he saw it,” said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.
“We talked about the next election. Our commitment remains the same and it is loud and clear. We want peaceful elections. We want free and fair elections. We are talking to everyone. It is our commitment to the people of the country.”
He added, “It is our sacred duty to protect democracy. We are committed to this responsibility. Bangladesh has an independent Election Commission.”
In response to a question, Obaidul Quader said, “We did not talk about any complaint. The US ambassador did not mention the caretaker government, dissolution of parliament, resignation of the prime minister either. We talked about free, fair and peaceful elections.
“The Americans did not give us any advice, and there was no talk of dialogue either,” he added.
