The communications and information ministers have welcomed the results of the four city corporation polls held on June 15, and congratulated the newly elected mayors.
Communication Minister Obaidul Quader, also the presidium member of the Awami League, on Sunday said: “The mistakes of the ruling party and the discrepancy between expectation and attainment have been reflected in the results.”
“The results have created the scope for conceding the mistakes, learning lessons from them and correcting them,” he said.
He hoped the ruling party, opposition and mayors who lost the race will learn from the election outcome.
Calling the results a warning for the next general election, Obaidul said it may be reflected in the next election, but the government has five months before then to set things right.
The government will have to be mindful of the next election, and fulfil its pledges as per its election manifesto, the minister observed.
On the opposition’s demand for a caretaker government, he said: “A total of eight city corporation polls, including the four held on June 15, were held under the present election commission (EC). The results of those polls proved the EC worked independently [from the ruling party].”
“The opposition wants a free and fair election. We hope the next general election will also be free and fair,” the minister said, urging the opposition to take part in the next general elections.
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, also president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), said: “The results of the four city polls were a victory for the democracy. No complaint has been raised about the polls. It proved that it’s a government of democratic culture.”
