Observing that Tuesday’s city elections were very much fair, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said this is the victory of democracy and mass people as militants and terrorists could not win the polls, reports UNB.

"This is the victory of democracy, this is the victory of the mass people…at least this is not the victory of militants, terrorists and those involved in subversive activities," she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks when two mayors-elect of Dhaka North and South city corporations Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokan along with their family members and some councilors-elect met her at her official residence Ganabhaban to greet her.

The Awami League chief also mentioned that the win of the AL-sponsored mayors and councillors in the city corporations is the people's victory against militants and terrorists.

"This victory is the people’s verdict against the militants, terrorists and subversive activists. This is how I consider this win of the mayoral and councilor candidates."

She went on saying, "Considering everything it can be said the city corporations elections were very much fair except some stray incidents…we’ll surely investigate these incidents."


Hasina mentioned that there were some incidents in some polling centres, but the ratio is very insignificant. "If we consider the other elections that took place during Khaleda Zia’s and other regimes these elections were very much free and fair."

She said the residents of the three city corporations have rejected the BNP-Jamaat alliance for their subversive, militant and terrorist activities in the recent past.

The Prime Minister also thanked the people, voters, Election Commission, law-enforcement agencies and all other concerned for holding a peaceful election.

About BNP’s election boycott, Hasina said it was BNP’s planned boycott.
"This was very much unfortunate, the voting started at 8am, without any reason they pulled out from the election stating irregularities and rigging in the election, but they couldn’t identify any center, this was totally false allegation and it was planned…this was done to tarnish the country’s image."

She also said in just couple of hours Mirza Abbas of Dhaka South got 2,94, 291 while Tabith Awal in Dhaka North got 3,25, 080 votes. "If there was any irregularity or rigging how they got such huge votes in just couple of hours, how the matter of rigging came," she asked.

Hasina mentioned that the allegations were nothing but to hamper the democratic system of the country as it is moving forward through the democratic path.


"This is nothing but to snatch people’s democratic rights…many quarters do not want democracy to prevail in the country and people develop their socio-economic condition," she said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that these quarters always think that if any undemocratic force comes to power they will be able to get flag in their vehicles.

"They are waiting for that, but that will never happen, Inshallah."

The Prime Minister said those who are trying to question credibility of the polls that is their ill intention.

She claimed that there was no abnormal voting in the elections. "The percentage of cast votes in the Dhaka South is 48 percent while in Dhaka North is 38 percent and 47 percent in Chittagong. Had there been any rigging, why the percentage will be so low," she questioned.

Hasina criticised the role of media in the election for their sympathy to the militants and terrorists who killed hundreds of people in the name of movement through burning people and vehicles across the country for 92 days since January 5.

"The media should play a role against terrorists…they should play their role in favour of people, peace and security," the Prime Minister said.

RI