staff correspondent :

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the government is not willing to have a conditional dialogue with BNP. If the conditions are withdrawn, only then will the dialogue on free, fair and participatory elections be contemplated.
Regarding the recommendations of the US pre-election observation team to make elections free, acceptable and participatory, he said, ‘BNP wants the resignation of the Prime Minister, dissolution of Parliament, abolition of the Election Commission and establishment of a caretaker government. I will think of dialogue when they withdraw these conditions. We have no thoughts on any conditional dialogue. Conditions will be seen if they withdraw.’
Obaidul Quader said during an exchange of views with journalists at the secretariat today, “We have no objection to the recommendations of the US pre-election observation team, we all agree on them.”
The Minister of Road Transport and Bridges said, ‘If the Prime Minister resigns, with whom will the BNP hold a dialogue? They have earlier rejected dialogue with the president. They did not go with the Election Commission twice.
Awami League general secretary said, ‘Our constitution has everything. The election will be conducted as per the election rules in the constitution. No one’s advice or instructions will be like that. There will be free and fair elections. As friendly countries they can send election observers. Let’s see if the election is going as we say.’
In response to a question from journalists about the election government, the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges said that the election government will be formed after the announcement of the schedule. However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will determine the cabinet size of that government. The Prime Minister has the power to decide whether the cabinet will be smaller, bigger or remain the same.