No scope for dialogue with BNP regarding election: Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has made it clear that neither the BNP nor any other political parties will be called for talks ahead of the next national election.

"There will be no closed-door discussions. If there is any, it will be open discussions. But I do not see any such possibility. No party is going to be called for a dialogue," he told reporters at the Secretariat on Monday. 

Referring to BNP's reluctance to take part in the election under a partisan government, Quader said, a crisis like this arises every time before a national election.

Regarding BNP's anti-government movement, he said, "There is no reason to see the BNP movement as a challenge. We will face it politically if BNP proceeds with the movement politically."

"It seems that the party [BNP] has failed to gather pace with the movement and draw people's participation," Quader said, adding that no movement is possible without public participation.

"We will look into it if the BNP is resorting to subversive activities after losing momentum in the movement," said Quader, referring to Sunday's fire incident at Ukhiya Rohingya camp.

"These [fire] incidents are taking place simultaneously with the BNP movement but they are blaming the Awami League. Why would the Awami League do that?" he said, throwing a question at the reporters.

"The government would only seek peace to remain in power, not chaos. Rather, it's the BNP who would try to create violence to come to power," he added.