Health Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday said the BNP was now regretting its decision to quit the city corporation election.
BNP leadership including Khaleda Zia is now regretting its pulling out of the race as its mayoral aspirants polled over three lakh votes within a few hours of voting, he said.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on its premises marking its 17th founding anniversary.
Vice-Chancellor of the BSMMU Prof Dr Quamrul Hasan Khan chaired the discussion.
Refuting the allegation of some BNP leaders that the city polls had been rigged, the senior Awami League leader posed a counter-question as to how they could poll such a large number of votes if it had been rigged.
Pointing at BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Mohammad Nasim said: “You needed 50 years more to learn politics like that of Sheikh Hasina.
“You vowed not to take part in any election under Sheikh Hasina but you did so and you yourself distributed leaflets like an activists and then you pulled out of the race.”
Nasim blamed Khaleda Zia for participating the city corporation election in a bid to foil it.
The committee organised the press conference at the National Press Club yesterday evening.
Terming the city polls free and fair, pro-Awami League journalists leader Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul condemned the attacks on journalists on the polls day.
Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul also offered his apology for such attacks on journalists.
He urged the government to take steps against the ruling party men who harassed and insulted journalists.