Dhaka: Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the next parliamentary election will lead the country’s democracy one step forward as he placed wreath at Shaheed Nur Hossain Square in Dhaka.

‘The country’s democracy will go further one step by next general election scheduled to be held on December 23 as under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, AL is putting its efforts to institutionalize the democracy to be continued,’ he told journalists after paying tributes to Nur Hossain in capital’s Zero Point area this morning, reports the BSS.

AL Advisory Council Member Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, Organizing Secretary AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, Office Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Shree Sujit Roy Nandi, Agriculture and Cooperative Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Education and Human Resource Affairs Secretary Shamsunnahar Chapa, Central Executive

Committee Member Akhtaruzzaman and General Secretary of Dhaka City South unit

of AL Shahe Alam Murad were present on the occasion, among others.

‘There were huge risks on all the way of current democratic journey,’ Quader said, adding that AL is always ready to sacrifice anything for continuation of this democratic process being started by Bangabandhu’s able daughter Sheikh Hasina.

He said AL rooted democracy on a strong ground in the country through struggle, sacrifice, oppression and movements.

He said the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s daughter and AL President Sheikh Hasina in the struggle of democracy will be ever remembered.

‘We do not know why the Jatiya Oikya Front is frustrated over the next general election. But there is also a ray of hope in their depression,’ Quader said replying to a query from journalists.

He expressed his optimism that the Oikya Front will participate in the next national election, saying ‘their announcement appears to be a matter of formality now’.

Replying to another question, Quader said ‘there is no need of a neutral government for holding a fair election rather neutral Election Commission (EC) needs to be formed in this regard.’

The electioneering is now under the authority of EC after it has announced election schedule for the next general election, he said, adding the EC has pledged to hold the election in a free, fair, neutral and peaceful manner.

Later, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami Jubo League, Swecchasebok League, Jatiya Sramik League and other political, social and cultural organisations also placed wreaths at Shaheed Nur Hossain Square.

On this day in 1987, Awami Juba League leader Nur Hossain, who imprinted his bare chest and back with slogans ‘Free democracy’ and ‘Down with autocracy’, embraced martyrdom in police firing during an anti-autocracy demonstration at the city’s Zero Point, now known as Shaheed Nur Hossain Square.