Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim said on Thursday leaders of BNP are repenting boycott of the city polls, reports BSS.
"BNP boycotted the polls by bringing allegation of rigging. But, leaders of the party are now repenting the boycott," he said.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on its premises marking its 17th founding anniversary and the 18th University Day.
Vice-chancellor of the BSMMU Prof Dr Quamrul Hasan Khan chaired the discussion, also addressed, among others, by State Minister for Health Zahid Malek, former health minister Prof Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, former secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Prof Dr Habib-e-Millat Munna, MP, Awami League's health and population affairs secretary Dr Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dublew, BMA president Prof Dr Mahmud Hasan and secretary general Prof Dr M Iqbal Arsalan.
Mohammad Nasim said, "BNP leaders, including Khaleda Zia, are now repenting as to why they have boycotted the city polls when the party-supported candidates polled over 0.3 million ( 3.0 lakh) votes within a few hours of the polling."
Refuting the allegation of some BNP leaders that the city polls had been rigged, the senior Awami League leader posed a counter-question as to how they polled such a large number of votes if the polls had been rigged.
Pointing at BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Mohammad Nasim said, "You needed 50 years more to learn the politics like that of Sheikh Hasina. Though you have declared first that you will not participate in polls under Sheikh Hasina, you took part in the city polls and distributed leaflets like activists. But, why you have left the field of polls again?"
"Why you have joined the polls with such players and then left the field of election at the middle? What kind of players you have chosen for playing who fled from the field. In reality, they went to the field of the polls to foil it," he added.
Calling upon the doctors to be more attentive to their patients, the minister said, "I will listen to all your words if you render more services to your patients. You have to go for more rounds in the morning and afternoon shifts in the hospitals so that no patient is deprived of your services."
