Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (March 16) said no country could interfere in the last national parliament election.

he also said India did not interfere in Bangladesh's election while many powerful countries tried to influence the polls.

Quader was addressing the biennial conference of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad at Dhakeshwari National Temple on Saturday (March 16) afternoon.

He said, "We conducted our elections. India did not interfere. They (India) said, 'let Bangladesh decide Bangladesh's election. Many powers in the world wanted to play an evil game here. India stood strongly by our side."

He said the relations between the two countries have reached a new height under the leaderships of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. 

Different problems, including border issues, were solved through discussions with India, he said, adding positive progress has been achieved over the Teesta water sharing agreement, "but we have to keep patience". 

He said it is not possible to solve those problems by creating any bitterness. 

"In the independence struggle of this country, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, everyone had contributed. No one's contribution is less," the minister said.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma inaugurated the conference.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen, Minister of State for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Kujendra Lal Tripura and Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council general secretary Rana Dasgupta addressed the discussion as special guests with Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad president J L Bhowmik in the chair.

BDST: 1729 HRS, Mar 16, 2024
MN/SMS