Obaidul Quader hails meeting at Badruddoza's house as 'beauty of democracy'

Awami League leader Obaidul Quader has welcomed the meeting of several politicians at Bikalpadhara chief AQM Badruzddoza Chowdhury's residence, terming it a 'beauty of democracy'.

"This is very good. The flowers of democracy are blooming. This is the beauty of democracy," the Awami League general secretary said at a programme organised by Daffodil International University on Thursday.

"I don't see any problem with it as they are only forming an alliance, not conspiring," he said, and added, "But we will have to wait to see where this polarisation ends."

On Wednesday night, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab, General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagorik Oikya Convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna, and Gano Forum Executive President Subrata Chowdhury met with Badruddoza at his Baridhara home.

These politicians have been talking about forging a third bloc beyond the alliances headed by the Awami League and the BNP. However, conspicuous by his presence was Jatiya Party Co-Chairman GM Quader, whose party is a powerful component of the Awami League-led coalition.

Obaidul Quader said forming group and alliances, and  polarisation were 'natural' happenings before elections.   

"Ideological differences are not the main factor in an election. Alliances are strategic here for winning elections and are also the need of the time, which I call the beauty of democracy."

Earlier on July 13, police gatecrashed a similar meeting attended by Badruddoza, Manna, Subrata, among others, at ASM Rab's house at Uttara. Krishak Sramik Janata League (KSJL) chief Kader Siddique was also present there.

Obaidul Quader, who is also road transport minister, said, "The meeting was not barred. I don't know whether some over-enthusiastic people did it. The government and the ruling party never obstruct election activities."       

  Badruddoza Chowdhury, Kader Siddique and Rab formed an alliance called the NDF before the 2014 general elections, which stayed away from the polls along with the BNP.

Ershad first announced the boycott of the election but later took part in it after much drama. The Jatiya Party, the main opposition in parliament, has three ministers and state ministers in the government.

  The Jatiya Party chairman earlier in the day sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention to take away his party's 'shameful dual role'.

He had also formed a separate alliance with some Islamic parties.

Obaidul Quader made it clear that the Awami League was not worried about these moves of Ershad, noting that he is also a special envoy of the prime minister, and has three of his party leaders as ministers in the government.

"I don't see any sign that they will leave the government. I don't think so," he said.