DHAKA: Ruling Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif commented that people have reject BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her party as they burnt and killed people in the name of movements and made derogatory comments about the martyrs in the month of victory.

Hanif made this remark on Thursday (December 31) morning at a press conference, organized in AL president’s political office in city’s Dhanmondi area.

Right after the press conference of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who rejected municipal elections results, the AL called the press conference.

Hanif asserted, “BNP’s participation in the election has legitimized the government and the EC. Until this election they neither accepted the government nor the EC”.

About the results of the polls he commented, “Khaleda Zia has murdered and terrorized people by petrol bombs in the name of movement”.

“People didn’t take it easily.”

“Moreover, the BNP chief made derogatory comments about the number of the martyrs in the month of the country victory in the war of independence.”

“She has proved herself a Pakistani through these.”

“People have rejected Khaleda Zia in the municipal elections for this kind of attitude.”

Accepting the sporadic incidents of irregularities, the AL leader said, “More violent activities were reported in previous elections. In Wednesday’s election one person was killed in Shatkania in a clash between to counselor candidates”.

“BNP is trying to involve AL leaders and activists in the incident. But people have seen what really happened yesterday”, he opined.

Hanif has praised the law enforcing agencies for discharging their duties properly during the elections. He said, “Our law enforcing agencies were in strict position.  Some of our activists were even injured due to their strong measures”.

“They should be praised for discharging their duties properly.”

Claiming that the allegation of election rigging is a total lie, Hanif asserted, “In some places, our candidates have lost the election in a difference of 13/14 votes.  If the elections were rigged, they would have won instead of loosing”.

“AL is respectful toward people’s verdict. Whatever the result was, it’s accepted.”

Mahbub ul Alam Hanif has criticized BNP’s acting secretary general saying, “Listening to his comments about municipal elections one would wonder, if he lives in Bangladesh or just came down from the heavens”.

“More violent activities were seen in previous elections,” Hanif responded.

AL agriculture and cooperatives affairs secretary Dr Abdur Razzak and joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni, among others, were present at the press conference.

BDST: 1517 HRS, DEC 31, 2015
AIK/RR/SMS