A befitting reply to BNP allegation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the people of Narayanganj gave a befitting reply to the BNP's allegation that free, fair and neutral elections could not be held under the Awami League government.
“The BNP has been making an allegation that free, fair and neutral elections are not possible under the Awami League government. But the people of Narayanganj have given a befitting reply to the allegation by holding the Narayanganj City Corporation polls in a free and fair manner,” she said.
The PM said this when Narayanganj mayor-elect Selina Hayat Ivy called on her at the Gono Bhaban in the evening.
“The Narayanganj elections were excellent and I congratulate and thank the people of Narayanganj as well as the Awami League
leaders and workers and others concerned for holding the polls in a free, fair and neutral manner,” Hasina added.
She said elections could be held in a free, fair and neutral manner under any political government and her party proved it.
“We can say that every election under the Awami League government had been free and fair.... People cast their votes in all the polls and those who got people's mandate became winners,” the PM stated.
Hasina, also the AL president, said she gave directives to the authorities concerned to hold the NCC polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner so that people could exercise their franchise properly.
The premier said she had confidence and trust in Narayanganj residents that they would vote for “boat”, the AL's polls symbol, if they had a chance to cast votes.
“They [people] have given the mandate to Ivy and I congratulate and thank them for this.”
The AL chief said BNP mayor candidates had won five city polls during the tenure of the previous AL government. “How could they win if those elections were rigged?... we accepted the people's mandate.”
Congratulating Ivy, Hasina assured the mayor-elect of full cooperation.
She hoped Ivy would be able to deliver on the voters' aspirations through implementing her electoral pledges.
The PM lauded the Election Commission, the Narayanganj district administration and law enforcement agencies for holding the city polls peacefully.
Speaking on the occasion, Ivy expressed gratitude to the premier for nominating her as the party candidate.
She thanked party men for working hard and the people of Narayanganj for giving overwhelming support to her.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and the party's central and Narayanganj city unit leaders were present.
Ivy registered a landslide victory in Thursday's NCC polls, beating her nearest rival Shakhawat Hossain Khan of BNP by 79,567 votes.
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