He said this on Wednesday, a day after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged the people to express their feelings about the present ‘misrule’ through ballots.
Syed Ashraf, also the LGRD and Cooperatives Minister, said: “It’s a chance for the voters to say ‘no’ to the BNP and Jamaat (-e-Islami). The people haven’t liked arson attacks and subversive acts.”
Over 130 people died and more than a thousand were injured in violence, mostly arson attacks on vehicles, in 92 days of the BNP-led alliance’s non-stop transport blockade and several rounds of shutdown since Jan 5.
Khaleda, who returned home recently after a three-month stay at her office, on Tuesday urged the people to stage a ‘silent revolution of ballots’ against the government by voting BNP-backed candidates in the city polls.
Speaking at a meeting of the Awami League’s Central Working Committee (CWC) at the Ganabhaban, Ashraf hoped that three mayoral aspirants backed by his party in the Dhaka South and North and Chittagong city polls would win.
He, however, added the government was ready to accept whatever the election results.
“We will accept the people’s verdict. We’re backing the candidates from that spirit,” he added.
Ashraf urged the members of the Awami League CWC to campaign for the party-backed candidates by keeping within the limits set by the electoral law.
He referred to the discontent in the party over supporting the councillor aspirants.
“The Awami League has selected the councillor candidates after thorough assessments,” he said.
The ruling party leader also spoke of a government plan to introduce direct involvement of parties in local government elections.
“Discipline remains in the party if elections are held with party candidates. There will be accountability and democracy will be strengthened,” he said.
Source: Bd news24
