BNP leader Moudud Ahmed on Monday said people, through electing the BNP-backed candidates in the city polls, have given a message that they want a change in the regime.
“The debacle of the ruling party in the city corporations’ polls has proved that the country’s people have no confidence in the current regime. They want a change in the government and gave their verdict against its misrule, corruption and repressive acts,” he said.
Moudud came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths along with the newly elected mayors of Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal at the grave of BNP founder, late president Ziaur Rahman in the city, reports UNB.
Expressing concern over the news that the new mayors will have to wait until the expiry of the tenure of the previous mayors, the BNP leader said, “We demand the government immediately hand over the charges to the new mayors and councillors.”
He also called upon the government to immediately hand over charges to the newly elected public officials.
On Sunday, the new BNP-backed mayors were sworn in by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while the councillors by LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam at the prime minister’s office in the capital.
The mayors are Ariful Haque Chowdhury of Sylhet City Corporation, M Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul of Rajshahi City Corporation, M Moniruzzaman Moni of Khulna City Corporation and M Ahsan Habib Kamal of Barisal City Corporation.
They were elected mayors through elections of their respective cities on June 15.
Moudud said they had no confidence in the incumbent Election Commission as it failed to ensure free and fair elections to the five city corporations.
“Had the elections been free and fair, BNP-backed candidates would have won with much bigger margins,” he said.
BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, joint secretaries general Mizanur Rahman Minu, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Dhaka city unit BNP member secretary Abdus Salam were, among others, present.
