Gazipur city elections won’t have impact on national elections: Razzaque

Awami League Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque insisted on Saturday that ruling party Awami League (AL) is not embarrassed by the results of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) elections held on Thursday.

“The GCC elections won’t have any impact on the national elections, many factors work behind the results of city corporation and municipality elections like local government ones,” he said.

Dr Razzaque came up with the remarks while addressing at the triennial conference of the AL’s youth wing Jubo League at Shaheed Sriti Pouro Uddyan in Sadar upazila of Tangail.

“A fair and accepted election was held in Gazipur, we wanted so and we again showed the nation that a fair and accepted election under the incumbent government is possible,” he said.

The minister said the valid government (AL) won’t be ousted through movement by the BNP and the next national elections will also not be barred. Urging the party men to remain vigilant, he like other party leaders reiterated that the next elections will be held in a free, fair and accepted way.

Regarding the new US visa policy, the AL presidium member said there is nothing to be worried or concerned over the matter.

“It is not sanctions by the US. We want a fair election on the basis of democratic values in the country—the US also wants to see this,” he said.

Recalling the political turmoil centering the 2014 and 2018 elections, the minister claimed that the US announced the new visa policy to ensure a congenial environment so that people can cast their votes smoothly at the polling centres.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, former State Minister Telecommunication Tarana Halim, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, among others spoke at the event.