Thank EC for holding fair Cumilla polls: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud thanked the Election Commission (EC) for conducting a fantastic, fair and peaceful election, reports BSS.
"I would like to congratulate the people of Cumilla on electing the Awami League candidate as mayor after a long time. I also extended my thanks to the leaders and activists associated with the polls and the Election Commission for holding a fair and fantastic election," he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after unveiling the cover of 'BSRF Barta', an annual publication of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), in the meeting room of his ministry at the Secretariat in the city.
Hasan said all the candidates of the polls have claimed that the election was participatory and it was held in a transparent manner and enthusiastic environment.
But the EC had monitored the AL candidates and supporters more strictly than other parties in the polls, said Hasan, also AL joint general secretary.
The minister also extended thanks to the defeated mayoral candidate and said he has lost by a small margin. "In fact, it is difficult to accept losing for a few votes. For this, he talked about going to court. On the other hand, we hoped that we would win by a big margin of votes," he added.
He said all the candidates including Sakku are claiming that the polls were held peacefully. As a result, it becomes unimportant whatever Mirza Fakhrul says from Thakurgaon, he added.
Earlier, the representatives of Democracy International (DI) met Dr Hasan Mahmud at his office.