AL suffered debacle in UZ polls, says Fakhrul

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the ruling party has suffered a debacle in the first phase of the upazila polls although it resorted to various election irregularities. Addressing a discussion, the BNP spokesman also claimed that about 95 per cent opposition-supported chairman candidates would come out winners had the election been free and fair. “The ruling party men captured polling stations, forced out BNP candidates’ agents and rigged votes… we believe 95 percent opposition contenders would have won the upazila polls if the elections had been free and fair,” he said. Fakhrul, however, cautioned his party men that there is no reason for complacency for the good results in the polls. “We must oust this fascist regime through a movement.” BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh marking the International Mother Language Day. With the discussion, the party has begun its two-day programme chalked out to celebrate the day. Voicing his concern over the country’s current situation, Fakhrul said the country’s independence and sovereignty are at stake as the fascist government has imposed its illegal rule on people by annihilating democracy through the January 5 voter-less election. “The current MPs have no validity as they’re not elected with people’s votes. The present parliament has no representation of the country’s majority people. We’ve no alternative to waging movement to overthrow them,” he added. Justifying their decision of boycotting the January 5 polls, the BNP leader said there is no reason for the opposition leaders and activists to get frustrated as their movement was successful. BNP standing committee members Rafiqul Islam Miah, Nazrul Islam Khan, Abdul Moyeen Khan, vice chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Selima Rahman, Jubo Dal leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, among others, spoke at the programme, according to a news agency.