Gazipur delivered the nation’s verdict: Fakhrul

The outcome of the Gazipur City Corporation polls reflect the mood of the nation, claims BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Briefing the media at the BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters, Fakhrul said the Gazipur verdict has strengthened the demand for caretaker government and sounded the death knell of the Awami League.

“Now please organise the parliament elections under a neutral caretaker and leave,” Fakhrul said of the Awami League led government.

BNP backed candidate MA Mannan defeated Awami League backed Azmat Ullah Khan by 100,000 votes to be elected as the first Mayor of Gazipur City Corporation on Saturday.

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Mannan’s got 3,65,444 votes with Azmat polling only 2,58,867 votes.

Fakhrul said there was a plot by the government to alter the mandate at Gazipur, “The people’s spontaneous resistance and silent verdict led to the failure of the government’s plans.”

“This victory comes in a city, which was a long-time Awami League stronghold. The city has 1 million voters spread over two parliamentary constituencies which had earlier elected Awami League candidates as MPs.”

Now the BNP has the Mayor and 48 of the 68 commissioners in the city, Fakhrul said. “This is a huge win for 18-Party alliance.”

“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has thanked the people of Bangladesh for this victory.”

Fakhrul also congratulated the BGB and other security agencies for being able to maintain law and order despite 'provocations’.

But despite the opposition win, he said, "free and fair polls are not possible under the current government."

“The government speaks of democracy but behaves like a dictatorship, a fascist party. They don’t believe in freedom of speech and thought. That was visible yesterday, when police were stopping our leaders and activists from entering Gazipur during the polls.”

Awami League is ‘strangling democracy’ said the spokesperson despite the poll victory in Gazipur City Corporation.

“The people have voted for opposition candidates in the five city corporations to express their full solidarity with our key demand of a poll under a neutral caretaker administration,” he said.

Fakhrul proposed that the provision to hold elections under a neutral caretaker government be swiftly added to the constitution and elections be declared without much delay.