Low turnout is also seen in developed countries: PM Hasina
Ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) mayoral candidates in the elections to two Dhaka city corporations called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital on Saturday night.
Both the AL candidates -- Atiqul Islam in Dhaka North City Corporation and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh in Dhaka South City Corporation -- were on the way to be elected as mayors as they were leading in the day’s elections by a huge margin of votes from their nearest rivals.
“The two mayoral candidates went to Ganabhaban around 9:30pm and met the prime minister there,” PM’s assistant press secretary ABM Sarwar-e-Alam Sarkar told BSS.
After arrival at Ganabhaban, they first greeted the premier by handing over bouquets to her. Sheikh Hasina also congratulated them by presenting them with flower bouquets, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the premier congratulated the city dwellers for casting their votes spontaneously through electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The prime minister said the people of Dhaka city have kept their confidence and trust once again in the government by casting vote in favour of the AL candidates.
“This verdict of the people is a reflection to the country’s tremendous progress and development that took place during the government,” she said.
About the BNP’s allegations on EVMs, Sheikh Hasina said vote rigging is an old habit of the BNP. “But vote stealing and rigging are not possible in this digital system. That’s why the BNP has brought allegations against the EVMs.”
Regarding the low voter turnout in the elections, the prime minister said the same picture (less presence of the voters) is also seen in the case of polls in developed countries.
The prime minister also congratulated all concerned including the law enforcement agencies and AL leaders and workers for holding the Dhaka city corporation polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
AL advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed also spoke on the occasion, PM’s assistant press secretary added.