Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said it was not clear why the voting was stopped in the Gaibandha-5 by-polls.
He said: "According to the presiding officers, the voting was suspended at the order of the election officer and the assistant returning officer. Apart from 51 centres, the voting in other centers was fair. Even then, the EC suspended the elections. It was not clear."
Obaidul Quader, also Awami League general secretary, was speaking at the inauguration session of Dhaka Nagar Paribahan bus route number- 22 and 26 in city's Mohammadpur area.
He hoped that the Election Commission (EC) would take appropriate measures in holding free, fair and acceptable elections.
About the BNP's demand of bringing party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman back to the country by withdrawing cases against him, the AL leader said the leader, who fled abroad on undertaking that he would not do politics, should withdraw his undertaking first and then it would be taken into account.
Regarding the BNP's rally, the minister said if Awami League announces a rally, there would be more than 10 lakh people, while the BNP could not gather one lakh people.
BDST: 1749 HRS, OCT 13, 2022
MN/SMS