Dhaka – BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday said their party’s mayoral candidates will win 80 percent of the 235 posts of municipal mayor in the December-30 elections if the voters can cast their votes properly.
“We’ve joined this election as part of our movement to restore democracy in the country. So, all the followers of BNP will get united and take part in this movement together with people,” he said.Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, further said, “You all know what will be the results of the municipal polls. We hope 80 percent of the election results will go in our favour if people can properly exercise their franchise. It may also go nil for us if people can’t cast their vetoes.”
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddher
Prajornma, marking its 19th founding anniversary.
Another BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khal was also present.
Talking to reporters, Moyeen khan said, they have participated in the polls despite knowing that the current Election Commission cannot do anything without the government’s instruction. “If the EC can’t work independently, it won’t be possible to hold a meaningful election in the country ever. “We saw this Commission in the past
protecting the interests of a particular party at the behest of the government.”
He demanded the government form an independent and neutral Election Commission so that fair and neutral elections can be held in the country as per the hopes and aspirations of people and democracy can be consolidated.
Gayeshwar urged the government to stop the arrest of BNP leaders and activists across the country and thus ensure a fair election.
A total of 1,223 mayoral aspirants have filed nomination papers across the country to contest the December-30 municipality elections.
Besides, 2,668 reserved (women) councillor and 9,798 general councillor candidates filed their nominations, Director (Public Relations) of the Election Commission Secretariat SM Asaduzzaman told UNB on Friday night.
Some 13,689 candidates will contest the elections against around 4,000 mayoral and councillor posts, he added.
The Election Commission on November 24 announced the election schedule for 234 municipalities out of total 323.
The deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on Thursday.
The nomination papers will be scrutinised on Saturday and Sunday while the last date for withdrawal of candidature in December 13.
Some 7,162,396 voters — including 3,586,356 males and 3,576,040 females — will be able to exercise their franchise through 19,187 booths of possible 3,582 polling stations during the elections.- News Desk
