It's victory of people

Terming yesterday's national election a victory of the people and of democracy, the ruling Awami League has expressed satisfaction over voter turnout.
AL leaders have also claimed the 10th parliamentary election has proved that a credible election is possible under a partisan government.
"The election was held in a free, fair and credible manner and voter turnout was satisfactory," said AL election steering committee co-chairman HT Imam at a briefing at Priyanka Community Centre in Dhanmondi yesterday evening.
"This election has ascertained the victory of the people," he said cheerfully.
The former establishment adviser to the prime minister thanked people for "braving all obstacles" and exercising their franchise.
"The opposition asked voters not to go to the polling centres but people rejected the call and cast their votes,” he said.
Responding to a question on the percentage of turnout, he said, "It is the jurisdiction of the Election Commission to declare the official figure."
He, however, claimed that more than 60 percent voters cast their ballots in some centres.
HT Imam also bitterly criticised the main opposition BNP-led alliance for "killing people in the name of blockade and agitation" and said such blockades were "nothing but a declaration of war against the people."
Immediately after the voting hours ended, AL leader Tofail Ahmed, also the industries minister, expressed satisfaction at the turnout of voters.
Referring to opposition leader Khaleda Zia's call "to resist" the polls, the AL advisory council member said, "People have cast their votes spontaneously rejecting Khaleda Zia's call."
Speaking at a press briefing at the party president's Dhanmondi office yesterday, Tofail described the election as the victory of democracy and said, "The government has successfully held the election in a free and fair manner, foiling all conspiracies."
Another advisory council member of the party MK Alamgir echoed Tofail and said, "The turnout was satisfactory in comparison to that in the developed countries."
"The turnout was low in the morning but it increased as the day progressed," he told reporters at the EC secretariat yesterday afternoon.