Dhaka, Jan 17 – BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said the by-polls to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral post was stayed with the government’s indication.“We’ve heard that the Dhaka North City Corporation by-polls have been stayed. What a nice game it is! It’s been done with the government’s signal. Their (govt’s) men filed writs with the High Court as per their instruction sensing a debacle in the by-election,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government has suffered a defeat with the apex court’s stay order on the by-polls.
Swadhinata Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 82nd birth anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Earlier in the day, the High Court (HC) on Wednesday stayed for three months the DNCC mayoral by-polls and elections to the councilor posts in 36 new wards.
Earlier on Tuesday, two separate writ petitions were filed with the HC seeking stay on polls.
As per the schedule declared by the Election Commission, the by-polls to the DNCC mayoral post were scheduled to be held on February 26.
The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant with the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last year.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said Awami League is unwilling to hold the DNCC polls after their party’s ‘miserable’ defeat in Comilla and Rangpur elections.
He said the ruling party has already got the intelligence reports that it will face a serious debacle in the DNCC by-polls if people can cast their votes.
“The downfall of Awami League has begun, and no one will be able to resist it until the 11th parliamentary election,” the BNP leader said.
Mosharraf warned the ruling party that people will not allow Awami League to deceive them further by holding a January 5, 2014 like election.
He also said the next election must be held under a non-party neutral government, not under Sheikh Hasina-led one, and BNP will join it under the leadership of Khaleda Zia. – UNB
