The general secretary of the ruling Awami League, Obaidul Quader, spoke about the report given by the United States of Global Human Rights that the last national election was not free and fair. He said, ‘Democracy in our country is not free from defects. Even in the United States, as those who have complained, democracy is not without flaws. Look at your own inner image before criticizing. Obaidul Quader said these things in response to questions from journalists at a conference in Bangshal in the capital on Tuesday afternoon. The triennial conference of Awami Jubo League’s Dhaka Metropolitan South Ward Unit No. 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 is being held on the grounds of Birshrestha Matiur Rahman School in Bangshal. The 11th National Assembly elections held in Bangladesh in 2018 were not considered free and fair by observers. In that election, the observers believed in the reports of various irregularities, including filling the ballot boxes with seals, agents of the opposition parties, and intimidating the voters. This has been mentioned in the US Global Human Rights Report. This report titled ‘2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices was published on the website of the US State Department on Monday. Speaking as the chief guest at the conference, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, “A report has suddenly come out in the US State Department. The last election was neither free nor fair. We block the program of the opposition party. Lack of transparency in elections. Obaidul Quader’s question to the US Department of State, “In which country of the world is democracy completely free of defects?” We are not perfect either. We are not completely error-free. But what you call error-free, if it had happened, would anyone other than Awami League have won the 2018 election? Accept this fact. Obaidul Quader said that there are defects of democracy in the country and said, “Those who have complained, there are also in their country. Even in their country, democracy is not without flaws. Donald Trump has not yet conceded defeat in the US presidential election. Forget about this? Before accusing others, describe your house. How Donald Trump rioted on Capitol Hill and left five dead. But we have not forgotten that history.’ He said the United States House of Representatives had to vote 15 times to elect the speaker. Democracy is nowhere without flaws. Obaidul Quader, talking about the allegations of missing and extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh by the United States, said that three to four indiscriminate shootings occur in the United States every month. How many children, how many people die prematurely? Is it not a shooting (s) or injury to your democracy? Did you manage to close it? Look inside yourself before criticizing. He said, ‘How is democracy in the United States? Votes are stolen from US presidential candidates. The candidate for the post of the president himself gave the accusation of vote theft and is still giving it. Stop them first. Perfect your country’s democracy first. We are not saying that we are perfect. We are rolling out the bug gradually. Let those who criticize. But before criticizing others, let them criticize themselves first, that will be right,” said Obaidul Quader. Obaidul Quader said in reference to the complaint of obstructing the program of the opposition party, “Have we obstructed any peace rally, meeting, a procession of the Awami League?” So why this false accusation against us? This general secretary of Awami League commented that the movement of the BNP is stuck in the mud. Obaidul Quader said this movement cannot be raised anymore. Now they resort to conspiracy and sabotage. They are preparing for sabotage, which can be understood from the incident of Banani.
