AL claims fair UP polls

The Awami League(AL)  yesterday claimed that the second phase of the union parishad (UP) elections was held in a free, fair and transparent manner except for some stray incidents. “There was no way to describe the polling as faulty because the Election Commission has suspended voting at only 22 polling stations out of over 6,000,” AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told reporters at party president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi political office.
Notwithstanding the clean chit by the ruling party, voting in 639 UPs ended at 4 pm yesterday amid reports of massive irregularities and sporadic violence. At least six people, including a school student, were killed and hundreds injured in violence. However, Hanif asserted that there were only a few incidents of violence and irregularities during the second phase of elections. At the same time, he expressed hope that such incidents will be significantly reduced in the following phases.
“The AL believes in peoples’ empowerment. It wants the local government elections should be held free, fair and credible so that the people at the grassroots can elect their own candidates. The government is extending its necessary support to the EC in this regard,” he said. The AL leader also called upon the elected party leaders to work for the welfare of their respective unions instead of engaging in post-poll violence. Referring to the BNP’s claim that the elections were farcical, Hanif said the opposition party has deliberately been spreading lies to destroy the credibility of the polls. “It is their (BNP) old habit,” he added.
The AL leader alleged that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has a tendency to violate court orders. This is because she knows that if the trial proceedings run properly, her guilt will be proved in court, he said.
AL leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmed Hossain, SM Kamal and Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap were also present at the news conference.

AL claims fair UP polls

The Awami League(AL) yesterday claimed that the second phase of the union parishad (UP) elections was held in a free, fair and transparent manner except for some stray incidents. There was no way to describe the polling as faulty because the Election Commission has suspended voting at only 22 polling stations out of over 6,000, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told reporters at party president Sheikh Hasinas Dhanmondi political office. Notwithstanding the clean chit by the ruling party, voting in 639 UPs ended at 4 pm yesterday amid reports of massive irregularities and sporadic violence. At least six people, including a school student, were killed and hundreds injured in violence. However, Hanif asserted that there were only a few incidents of violence and irregularities during the second phase of elections. At the same time, he expressed hope that such incidents will be significantly reduced in the following phases. The AL believes in peoples empowerment. It wants the local government elections should be held free, fair and credible so that the people at the grassroots can elect their own candidates. The government is extending its necessary support to the EC in this regard, he said. The AL leader also called upon the elected party leaders to work for the welfare of their respective unions instead of engaging in post-poll violence. Referring to the BNPs claim that the elections were farcical, Hanif said the opposition party has deliberately been spreading lies to destroy the credibility of the polls. It is their (BNP) old habit, he added. The AL leader alleged that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has a tendency to violate court orders. This is because she knows that if the trial proceedings run properly, her guilt will be proved in court, he said. AL leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanok, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Ahmed Hossain, SM Kamal and Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap were also present at the news conference.