Neutral poll possible under present govt
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today congratulated the newly elected mayors of four city corporations– Khluna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal– saying they have won the poll getting public support, which is never be a matter of grief for herself or her government. “Rather we are happy for the reason that we could create an congenial atmosphere so that people can exercise their voting rights freely and fairly for which we have been struggle for long,” she said.
Replying to remarks passed by opposition member Barrister Moudud Ahmed on a point of order in the House, the prime minister said the people have cast their votes as they wished. So, there is grief emanating from the poll result, she said.
However, the PM said anti-liberation and anti-democratic forces had nexus in the city poll.
Sheikh Hasina reiterated that her party will stay in power if the countrymen want, otherwise not. “We do politics for people, and we have no intension to come to power through snatching the voting rights of people,” she added.
Ruling out the demand of the opposition for restoration of the caretaker government system, the prime minister said, there is no need of the unconstitutional provision as we could give back the constitutional rights of franchise to the people.
“Don’t try to invoke any unconstitutional provision which will bring no benefit for anyone except a few who frequently can change their political colour. Even, the election might be foiled,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the elections to the four city corporations have strengthened the foundation of the democracy breaking the culture of vote rigging, booth capturing, ballot box snatching, terrorism and hurling bombs.
“Now the electoral system has taken a positive shape, making the foundation of democracy more solid,” she said.
The prime minister also extended her thanks to the Election Commission (EC) and said the commission has discharged its duty with utmost neutrality and liberty.
Sheikh Hasina said the people of the country could cast their vote peacefully as Mohajote government led by AL was in power. And it was proved that neutral election is possible under the present government.
In this regard, the prime minister pointed out the election scenario after killing of the Father of the Nation in 1975.
Black money, hooligans, and arms and ammunitions ruled the election after military dictator Ziaur Rahman took over power breaking the army rule and defying the constitution, she said.
Every election during Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Begum Zia has set an individual record of vote manipulation. At that time, the minority people and rivals never could cast their votes, she said.
It was reality that in its past tenure BNP tried to snatch the victory of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury in the Chittagong City Corporation, Sheikh Hasina said adding a number of ministers were engaged to upset the result.
“But, people protected their voting rights through laying a siege around the election office and compel them to declare the actual result,” she recalled.
The prime minister also mentioned the vote rigging in the by elections in Dhaka-10 constituency, Magura and Mirpur when BNP was in power,” she said adding the people still can remember those elections. Sheikh Hasina said, her party demanded for transparent ballot boxes and a voter list with photographs as BNP made 1.28 crore false voters to win the election.
“Our goal was to establish a system, where election would be held in a free, fair, neutral and peaceful atmosphere and people will give their vote freely according to their wishes,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said as many as 6500 elections at local and national levels were held during the present tenure of the Awami League led government electing over 63,000 people representatives. None could raise any allegation of rigging or any interference of the government in the elections, she said.
The prime minister said, without free and fair election, it is mot possible to make a government accountable and transparent. A candidate will not work for people if he need not go to the people for vote, she said.
Sheikh Hasina criticized leader of the opposition for not appearing the court in connection with a number of corruption cases.
“Begum Zia is not appearing before the court on the plea of attending the Jatiya Sangsad session. But unfortunately, she is not coming to the parliament. She is giving false statement to the court,” the prime minister said
-With The Independent input
