City polls results won’t affect government, national politics: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the results of the City corporation elections will not affect national politics, contrary to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s expectations.

Khaleda called for a ‘ballot revolution’ in the civic polls while addressing a press conference on Sunday.

About two hours later, Prime Minister Hasina held her own press meet at Ganabhaban.

She said people would not vote for the BNP because of the violence they had suffered during a blockade called by Khaleda.

The elections to the three city corporations in Dhaka and Chittagong are slated for Tuesday.

The prime minister told the BNP there would be no scope of rigging.

Hasina’s press conference was called to brief the media about her recent visit to Indonesia where reporters put questions on the city corporation polls and Khaleda’s speech.

“How will people respond to her call after seeing all the damage she caused?” the prime minister asked.

Khaleda, in her speech, said her party was treating the city polls as a ‘test case for the government, Election Commission and the administration’.

Hasina, however, was not inclined to compare them.

Referring to Khaleda’s remarks, she said, “There is a contradiction in Khaleda Zia’s speech.

“She once said she was taking part in the elections because they were of the local government,” the prime minister said.

“People’s opinion would not find full expression she had herself said.

“So, people will vote to choose the local government in these elections, which will have no reflection on the national election,” Hasina said.

“Elections mean victory and defeat. We’ll win if people vote for us, otherwise, we will lose. We are not worried about this,” she added.

Political parties cannot directly field candidates in local government polls like the Apr 28 city corporation vote. But they can support a candidate.

The BNP, which boycotted the 2014 general election and is demanding snap polls, has announced its backing for candidates in the civic vote.