The foreign minister angry for questioning about the election

Bangladesh's national elections are still eight months away. The foreign minister was angry with the journalists for bringing up the topic of the election now. AK Abdul Momen.

Addressing the journalists, he said, 'You (mass media workers) chatter yourselves, let the foreigners chatter.'

On Monday (April 24) afternoon, in the press conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's trip to three countries, the Foreign Minister got angry at a question about the election.

The foreign minister said, 'Elections after eight months. A fuss about them. There is no work in the country? There are many things in the country. Climate, employment challenges. There is no end to the challenge. You just babble without saying these. Only with the election. It is very sad.'

He said, 'I feel very sad. You chatter yourselves, let the foreigners chatter.'

Stating that the government wants free and fair elections, Momen said, "We want a free and fair election." We have established the kind of institutions that are needed to make it free and fair. However, if the government only wants, the Election Commission wants, there will not be a free and fair election. It cannot be guaranteed.

Momen asked the journalists whether the opposition BNP wants free and fair elections. He said, you ask BNP whether they are committed to free and fair elections. Fair and transparent elections will be held only if all parties give commitment to free and fair elections. Because the government failed. The Election Commission is ready to conduct transparent elections. The rest (political parties) were brought into the party.

He said that all parties, including the opposition, should have sincerity and unity in the elections. All parties should come for free and fair elections.

The foreign minister also mentioned that the election commission is independent and all powers are vested in the commission during the election. He said that the Election Commission is independent. It would be wrong to say only independent. Prime Minister did not appoint them (Election Commission). The committee appointed them under special management. They are very independent.

He said, during the election, all the responsibilities of the commission. They (Election Commission) can suspend, terminate, transfer any officer be it civil or security during election.

The foreign minister also expressed hope that the people of the country will vote for the current government.

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