Dhaka: Road Transport and Bridges Minister and general secretary of ruling Awami League Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said only those who are represented in the national parliament can be the part of the election-time government.

‘According to the electoral process, the country’s parliamentary elections will be held in due time,’ the minister said while talking to journalists at his secretariat office.

On the question of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation during the election, he said, ‘Who will run the country if the prime minister resigns? Will Khaleda Zia come out of the prison to run the country?’

He said the election will be held in accordance with the constitution, the government will be small in size during the elections. ‘It will be similar to other countries in the world.’

Awami League will win the next election because of its huge popularity in the grassroots, he further said.

‘Khaleda Zia can’t participate in election’

Replying to another question, Obaidul Quader said, ‘It is not right to hold the position of the party chief if you are sentenced for corruption.’

It was written in BNP’s constitute that if any party man is convicted in accordance with the President’s order (no 8), he/she cannot hold any of the party posts as well as can’t participate in the parliament election, he said.

Replying to another question on rally permission, the minister said, ‘When BNP was given permission for holding rally they said due to their pressure, government has given the permission.’

‘If you are denied permission, then they say there is no democracy in the country. Now you say what the government will do?’

‘During the last nine years, did they show any huge public gathering for nine minutes? Now people are in election mode not in the mode to wage movement. People are now happy with the development activities of the government,’ said the minister.

When asked about the bad road conditions, the minister said the concerned departments are doing extensive development works.

After ¾ months, you will see there will be no problem, he added.