Newly appointed Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the ruling party would hold talks with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over national issues in the future, if needed. “We believe in democracy and thus want talks with political parties on issues of national interest. But there is no need for a dialogue just yet on the issue (formation of Election Commission) the BNP wants a discussion,” he told reporters at a press meet, organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum, at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Quader, who is also the road, transport and bridges minister, came up with the remarks following BNP’s repeated demands for talks on the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC). The tenure of the present election commissioners expires in February next year.
The BNP and different civic groups have been urging the AL to consult all political parties to forge a national consensus on the formation of an acceptable poll panel.
Asked whether the AL would take initiatives to bring the BNP into the next election,Quader said, “The BNP will join the election and in a proper way. It’ll not repeat its past mistakes. If they don’t come, things will go on as usual. Don’t they have any wish to rule the country? Many of them are spending sleepless nights. There is pressure from their young leaders and other pressures as well.”
The AL leader recalled that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had called BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on the phone, but she had not responded. The Prime Minister had also gone to Khaleda’s house to express her sympathy at the sudden death of the latter’s youngest son, Arafat Rahman Koko, he reminded the reporters. The attitude of the BNP placed hurdles on the way to holding
talks between the two parties, Quader added.  Replying to a question, the AL general secretary said they were taking steps to delink the party from the government in a bid to make the organization modern, dynamic and smarter. When asked about the AL’s current weaknesses, the senior party leader said the AL was a big political party and disputes often surfaced. “I will try to resolve these disputes within the party,” he added. He observed that that some unwanted elements would have to be removed to further strengthen the organisation.
 Obaidul Quader said communalism and militancy were now the major challenges before the AL-led government. Militant activities seemed to have ebbed following steps taken by law enforcers, but there was no room for complacency, he added. “Maybe, they (militants) are preparing to carry out bigger attacks,” he said. About the Padma Bridge, the minister said it would earn Bangladesh a position of respect in the world, adding that its construction would be completed in due time.