Dhaka, Jan 31 – The ruling party Awami League has claimed that the Dhaka city residents were eagerly waiting for exercising their franchises in the Saturday’s Dhaka North and South City corporation elections as the polls will be held in a free fair and credible manner.“The city polls will be held in a peaceful and festive manner and people will cast their votes in favour of their favourite candidates without intimidation,” said AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif at a press conference at the party president’s Dhanmondi office in the city yesterday.
He also alleged that BNP was hatching a conspiracy to make the Dhaka city corporations polls questionable sensing defeat of its nominated candidates. They are hiring armed goons to create anarchy during the polling hour.
The AL joint general secretary also urged international observers not to interfere into the internal affairs of Bangladesh.
“It is very unfortunate that foreign observers interfere in our internal affairs on different issues. They are our development friends but I will request them not to interfere in our internal affairs,” he said.
Hanif also urged the Election Commission to exercise its authority so that the foreign observers along with the local ones adhered to the electoral code of conduct on the day of voting.
As many as 74 international observers will monitor the elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations slated to be held today (Saturday). Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used exclusively in tomorrow’s city corporation elections.
Among the foreign observers- 27 are from the US, 12 from the UK, five from the European Union, six from the Netherlands, six from Switzerland, five from Japan, three from Denmark, four from Norway, two from Australia and four from Canada. Besides, the Election Commission approved a total of 1,013 local observers from 22 organizations to monitor the city polls.—Staff Reporter
