Have mindset to accept polls results

Former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique yesterday urged the political parties to have the mindset to accept election results and not to question the voting process in the case of defeat.

“It's happening all the time. It's a bad practice…,” he said, while addressing a discussion of Bangladesh Heritage Foundation.

The programme on the recently-held Khulna city election and upcoming city and national polls was held at Cirdap.

Prof Arefin said in the past, whenever a political party was defeated, it used various means to taint the election. “When casting votes, people usually consider candidate's credibility and his party's popularity.”

Rokeya Kabir, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Shangha, said the EC has to be careful in the Gazipur city polls so that fanatics cannot misuse religious sentiment.

Prof Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, VC of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; and Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, also spoke at the discussion chaired by BHF Chairman Waliur Rahman.