Voters didn't boycott city polls despite BNP's call: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said the two city corporations elections have proved that voters didn't boycott the polls despite BNP's call, rather exercised their voting rights spontaneously, reports BSS.
"Over 50 per cent votes have been cast in Barishal City Corporation polls while nearly 50 percent votes were cast in Khulna city polls. And it has proved that people didn't boycott the elections at BNP's call. I think BNP should take lesson from this," he said.
The minister made the remarks while replying to a query of journalists after uncovering a book named 'Military Elo Grame' at the conference room of the ministry.
Senior journalist and the daily Desh Bartaman chief editor Nasiruddin Chowdhury, author of the book journalist Shibu Kanti Das and publisher Rehena Chowdhury, among others, were present.
Hasan said the voting of the two city polls were held very peacefully on Monday and locals cast their votes very enthusiastically and joyful mood. BNP has boycotted the polls and even, they asked the voters and their activists not to go to the polling centres, which has gone unheard, he added.
Moreover, many leaders and activists of BNP ran in the election in the polls. The minister said people would take part in next polls also if BNP boycotts any election in future.
Replying to another query over the rejection of polls results by Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), the minister said Islami Andolan secured second position. But, the winners of the two city polls bagged three times more votes than the candidates of the IAB, Hasan said.