The recent Dhaka City Corporation polls were better than the one in 2001 under the BNP regime, claims the ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader.
“Those who criticise the polls should see that during the 2001 BNP rule Sadeque Hossain Khoka was elected mayor without any votes,” he told the media on Friday (Mar 1) at the AL chief’s Dhanmondi offices.
He added that during that time there was zero voter turnout and the Khoka held on to his post illegally for an additional three years.
“BNP takes part in the polls as per their convenience. The party will be in massive trouble in the future if it keeps boycotting the polls,” he said on the opposition’s decision to not participate in any election under the AL administration.
Saying that boycotting the polls isn’t the democratic way, he added, “Even though BNP isn’t taking part in the polls, their activists are. The supporters of those who have been banished are also working in the field.”
The road transport and bridges minister said that the election was peaceful given that the ward councillor polls were made independent.
The Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral by-polls were held on Feb 28 where AL candidate Atiqul Islam won a landslide victory with 8,39,302 votes.