Rejecting the municipal polls result, the BNP-led 20-party alliance has demanded resignation of the government and the Election Commission.
“The incumbent government's undemocratic, fascist behaviour and the election commission's failure to carry out its constitutional duty prove that no election would be free, fair and acceptable under this government and the election commission.
“For this reason BNP and its 20-party alliance reject Wednesday's municipal polls result. At the same time we demand resignation of the government for cheating with the countrymen's expectations as well as the commission for its failure to carry out its constitutional duty,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of BNP.
Addressing a press conference held in BNP chairperson's Gulshan office around 11:30am Thursday, the BNP leader alleged that the government has mugged the people's verdict using its subservient election commission, partisan administration and law enforcers.
Fakhrul said the decision of result refusal came from a meeting of BNP's standing committee members, vice chairmen, advisory council members and joint secretary generals with party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday night.
There were reports on allegations of vote rigging, illegal stuffing and sporadic violence in some places and on the contrary, the EC claimed that the election was peaceful except some stray incidents.
Fakhrul said the election commission has held a flaw-full and unacceptable election ignoring the demand of army deployment in the election.
“It was the government's aim to prove its popularity abroad through a so-called election under party banner...in reality, through this election the government, election commission, electoral process and democracy were defeated.”
When asked about the future of its elected mayors, Fakhrul said: “We are rejecting the whole result.”
In reply to another query on the result's impact on the party, he said: “It will not frustrate our leaders and activists, rather will encourage them up.”
The ruling Awami League came out on top in the first ever partisan municipality polls held on Wednesday in 234 areas of the country with a sweeping victory over arch rival BNP.
According to unofficial results, AL-backed mayor candidates won in 178 municipalities, seven of them elected uncontested. BNP-blessed won in just 23. Main opposition parliament Jatiya Party bagged just one.