Dhaka, Nov 1 — Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said free and fair elections are possible if the Election Commission is working properly.
"There have been no interferences from the government in this election," Hasina said after meeting Narayanganj mayor-elect Selina Hayat Ivy at her official residence, Ganabhaban, Tuesday night.
Ivy received floral greetings from the prime minister after a nearly 30-minute meeting. Shamim Osman, the defeated Awami League-backed mayor aspirant, was also there.
The prime minister said, "We want to ensure people's power. We want that people express their opinions, for which free and fair elections are needed."
She also said it was possible to hold a free and fair election in Narayanganj City Corporation since Awami League is in power.
Ivy, the rebel Awami League candidate, reached Ganabhaban at 8pm for a courtesy meeting with ruling Awami League president Hasina.
Her two sons, Kazi Sadman Hayat Shimanta and Kazi Sardil Hayat Ananta, Narayanganj city Awami League president Anwar Hossain, vice-president Haider Chowdhury and district Juba League president Abdul Kader accompanied her to Gannabhaban.
Ivy defeated Awami League-backed Shamim Osman by 101,343 votes in Sunday's Narayanganj City Corporation vote. She polled 180,048 votes in 163 polling centres while Shamim secured 78,705.
Hasina pointed out that the voter turnout was nearly 70 percent.
"70 percent votes in a local government election is quite a feat. This is an Awami League achievement," she said.
"Awami League-style election means people will vote whoever they want," Hasina said, "None of the elections held during Awami League's time have been manipulated. We have reached this point through much struggle."
"We have shown that women's empowerment is most important. A woman has won. That is important," she said.
"We have a lady mayor now," she said.
The Election Commission asked for deployment of troops but they were not deployed in Narayanganj City Corporation election. BNP-backed candidate Taimur Alam Khandaker pulled out from the race at the last minute on orders of his party to protest against the non-deployment of army.
Why always army?
"Why would we need the army in every small matter?" Hasina said, referring to BNP's protest. "The army is under the defence ministry, which is under the head of government. The army cannot leave barracks without the government head's orders," she said.
"Our aim was a free, fair and unbiased election. We've had by-elections, several local government elections — none of them needed the army.
"Why did she (BNP chief Khaleda Zia) become so eager for the army in this particular election?"
The prime minister congratulated the people of Narayanganj.
"The first and second in the elections are both from Awami League. Now all will have to work together for Narayanganj's development," she said.
From:
bdnews24.com
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