Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said elections and by-polls are regularly being held in the country as there is democracy.

“BNP has been able to take part in those elections and come out victorious,” he said during a briefing at his official residence.

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said there is no autocracy in the country. “There’re democracy, democratic values and freedom of speech. As a result, BNP has been able to always talk against the government and malign it.”

Describing BNP as the holder and bearer of destructive politics, he said its negative and power-centric politics is a barrier to taking democracy forward.

The ruling party leader said the great work of building a creative Bangladesh is on under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

He said people want to see the continuation of development and Bangladesh as a self-reliant country. “So, people don’t respond to BNP’s destructive programmes and falsehood.”