The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday welcomed the result of four city and nine pourashava polls saying, "We on behalf of Bangaladesh Awami League, would like to express our deep gratitude to the people of the electoral areas for voting the nominees backed by 14 party alliance."

He also greeted the officials related to the electoral system to perform their duties impartially.

Zillur was jubilant while uttering his reaction on the results of the four city and nine pourashava election at the party's Dhanmondi office surrounded by a number of AL central leaders.

He extolled the victory of the AL-backed candidates in the local polls as the "victory of the people of Bangla."

Urging the Government to announce of the schedule for the parliamentary elections to restore democracy in the country he said, "Enthusiasm of the people to vote their representatives has proved that the people are eager to establish a democratic government in the country through parliamentary elections. So the Government should arrange the national polls ahead of any other elections to preserve the constitutional right of the people."

Criticising the Government for not withdrawing emergency rule he said, "We noticed that the people could not exercise their franchise in a festive mood for emergency rule. The people would participate in voting spontaneously if emergency was withdrawn."

Referring to different newspaper reports published yesterday on controversies surrounding the local polls such as anomaly between voter lists and national ID cards, absence of photographs from the voter list provided to the candidates, inadequate polling booths, shortage of modern technology and lack of administrative coordination, he said, "If these disputes are not solved immediately, it will cause a great harm to the conduct of the parliamentary polls. So the government should take initiatives for holing a free, fair and credible national election."

Zillur Rahman also expressed gratefulness to the party chief Sheikh Hasina as she was always in touch with the partymen to inquire the electoral atmosphere through phone despite her illness.

In a greeting speech to the newly elected city and pourashava mayors and councillors Sheikh Hasina said that the success was the result of hard work and honesty of the partymen and love of the people.

She expressed her reaction from Washington through telephone to her press secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

She urged the Government to withdraw emergency rule to hold the parliamentary polls in a fair and credible manner.

She also called on the Election Commission and the Government to preserve the constitutional rights of the people.