The immediate past city polls and recent by-elections to six parliamentary constituencies have proved that free, fair and impartial elections are held in Bangladesh only during the rule of Awami League government. Democracy has won through these polls as these were held in a fair manner.
The Monday’s elections to Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Barishal City Corporations (BCC) and the last month’s polls to Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) were unbiased and a level playing field was ensured there.
The Election Commission, the independent constitutional body that operates the legal functions of election laws in Bangladesh, does not need anyone’s assistance as the commission itself is strong, capable, and independent for holding polls. The commission has already conducted many polls in fair and transparent manner.
AL backed Talukder Abdul Khaleque has been re-elected as mayor of Khulna City Corporation for the third time in the KCC election held on Monday while Awami League candidate Abul Khayer Abdullah has been elected mayor unofficially in the Barishal City Corporations elections. In Gazipur, independent candidate Jayeda Khatun has won the Gazipur city poll defeating her nearest rival Awami League-nominated candidate Azmat Ullah Khan.
We hope the next city polls to Rajshahi
and Sylhet City Corporations will also be
held in free, fair and peaceful manner
ahead of our national election
We express satisfaction over these three city polls and by-elections to six parliamentary constituencies, which were held in free, fair and peaceful manner. So, the real picture of the country’s voting has been exposed as the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government has taken every measure to continue the democratic trend.
After the Gazipur city election, Khulna and Barishal were very important as there would be parliamentary elections in the future. Though Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the major opposition political parties, was not there in the race, all eyes were fixed on these elections as these were major polls ahead of the country’s next general election under the Election Commission, led by CEC Kazi Habibul Awal.
These three city polls were crucial due to the attention the government and the commission were receiving from the international community. Countries such as the USA, UK, the EU, Japan, and even the UN continued focusing on the city polls in Bangladesh.
The commission did everything possible to ensure holding a free, fair, and neutral election and has set an example. As per the schedule, after Gazipur, Khulna and Barishal City Corporations, the elections to Rajshahi and Sylhet City Corporations will be held on June 21.
We believe the commission itself is strong, capable, and independent for holding poll as it has already conducted the Cumilla and Gazipur, Khulna and Barishal City Corporations elections in fair and transparent manner alongside by-elections to six parliamentary constituencies. Therefore, we hope the next city polls to Rajshahi and Sylhet City Corporations will also be held in free, fair and peaceful manner ahead of our national election.
