The BNP has described the results of the four city corporation elections as a ‘silent revolution’ by the people.
It also urged party leaders and activists to be ‘patient’ after the convincing victory of the candidates it supported in the civic polls only six months before the general elections.”Chairperson Khaleda Zia has cautioned the leaders and activists not to be instigated by any provocation,” party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters at around 11:15pm Saturday at Naya Paltan headquarters.
“Our candidates” have won the partial election results but there is nothing to be excited about it, he added.
Rizvi added BNP would disclose its formal reaction soon.
Meanwhile, the chief of the Workers Party, a component of the ruling 14-Party conglomerate, has termed the defeat of the alliance-backed candidates in four city corporation elections as a ‘warning’ for the government while a leader of the opposition BNP said the poll results manifested the government’s failure.
They made the observations during a discussions arranged by the BBC Bangla in capital Dhaka on Sunday.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, BNP standing committee member Hannan Shah, former Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain and Khan Foundation Executive Director Rokhsana Khandker were the panel discussants at the programme, ‘BBC Bangladesh Dialogue’, held in Bangla Academy auditorium.
Asked if the defeat of the 14-Party alliance-supported mayoral candidates in the four cities is the manifestation of the people’s no confidence on the government, Menon said: “It’s not no confidence, but (it’s) warning for the government.”
“We’ve been able to hold a good election. Apart from local development issues, national issues influenced the polls. This election has proved that we can hold polls without a caretaker government,” he said.
The mayoral candidates backed by BNP-led 18-Party alliance – Ariful Haque Chowdhury in Sylhet, Ahsan Habib Kamal in Barisal, Mossadeque Hossain Bulbul in Rajshahi and Moniruzzaman Mani in Khulna – won the elections held only six months ahead of the national polls.
Outgoing mayors of the city, all from Awami League, were defeated by votes ranging from 17 thousands to 60 thousands.
Hannan said: “If the polls results are considered warning, then the government should keep in mind that one is expelled from the playground if one doesn’t correct oneself after the warning. Obviously the poll results manifested government’s failure.”
Sakhawat, however, held politicisation responsible for the defeat for the ruling alliance-backed contestants.
“The Grand Alliance had to pay for the excessive politicisation in this election. Many competent candidates were defeated as national issues got prominence. The lack of confidence (in the government) has been exposed.”
Rokhsana said: “The power of the people is the main power in our country. The people have been able to express their opinions freely through this election. Their opinions have been reflected.”
