Poor turnout in city polls an ominous sign: JOF

Jatiya Oikya Front on Tuesday said that the poor turnout in the February 1 elections to two cities in Dhaka was an ominous sign for the nation and the country.

JOF leaders made the comment after a meeting of its steering committee presided over by the front’s top leader and Gono Forum president Kamal Hossain at his Motijheel office in Dhaka.

‘The recent Dhaka city elections reflected the people’s and youths’ distrust of the government, the election commission and the electoral system. The elected mayors had got only 5 to 7 per cent of total votes. The remaining votes were forged vote of EVM,’ Mohsin read.

In Saturday’s Dhaka city elections, the voter turnout was 25.3 per cent in the election to the Dhaka North City Corporation, while 29.2 per cent in the Dhaka South City Corporation polls.

‘The present government has destroyed democracy, rule of law and electoral system. The government fears the voters and wants that the voters should not go to the polling centres. That is why, the government has destroyed the total electoral system,’ Mohsin said.

‘Poor turnout means people think that their votes will not change the government. It is an ominous sign for the country,’ Mohsin read out.

Responding to reporters, Kamal Hossain said that the two mayor-elects of ruling Awami League could not be called ‘mayors of the majority of voters’.

BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said that during campaigns, thousands of people expressed solidarity with the two BNP candidates and a mass wave was created in favour of them.

He claimed that the mass wave proved that the people wanted the BNP candidates.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, Ganasasthya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh faction chairman Nurul Amin Byapari also spoke.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net