People will answer Jan 5 snub in Apr 28 city polls: BNP

BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman says “having been denied the chance to vote" in the general election on Jan 5 last year, the public will let out their anger against the Awami League in the Apr 28 election to city corporations.

He said his party would make sure the people were not intimidated by what he dubbed as “state-sponsored terrorism” during the ensuing elections.

“City corporation elections will witness outbursts of people’s pent-up anger for being denied an opportunity to vote in the parliamentary polls,” he told reporters on Friday.

Noman accompanied Chittagong Mayor M Manjur Alam when the latter collected nomination form, seeking a re-election from the port city.

Elections to three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong are slated for Apr 28.

BNP’s port city unit has already announced its support for Alam, who had defeated Awami League-backed ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, his mentor, in 2010.

Alam resigned from his post earlier in the day.

He said he was contesting on behalf of the ‘Chittagong Unnayan Andolan’ (development movement) and was backed by the BNP.

“I’m grateful to the people for their cooperation during my five-year term. They’ll judge my performance,” he said.

The ruling Awami League has backed AJM Nasir Uddin in the mayor’s race.

Noman claimed the people would vote against the ruling party-backed candidate.

He added that his party was “ready” for any talks to make the city polls a success, saying it was the “perfect time for an acceptable election”.

“Contesting the election is also a part of demonstration. But I can’t say whether this election will be fair,” he said. “It will be known by the activities of the Election Commission and government.”

“We’ll do our best to ensure Manjur’s victory,” Noman added.