Mayor-elect MA Mannan of Gazipur City Corporation yesterday expressed willingness to work with his defeated rival Ajmat Ullah Khan for the development of the city.
“I want to work not only with my main rival [Ajmat], but also with all others for the development of the city,” he told reporters at his main electoral camp in Gazipur city.
Mannan, who had been supported by the BNP-led 18-party alliance in the election, won a landslide victory in the first-ever mayoral election to Gazipur City Corporation, defeating Ajmat by about 1,06,577 votes.
Mannan, also an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said he would undertake short, medium and long-term projects to transform Gazipur into a modern city.
“I will also form consultancy committees with renowned citizens of the city corporation to achieve it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ajmat, who had been backed by the ruling Awami League in the polls, congratulated Mannan on his election as mayor, and said he would provide all sorts of assistance to Mannan, if needed.
At a press briefing at his house in Tongi yesterday, Ajmat hoped Mannan would fulfil the voters’ hopes and aspirations through his work.
“People did what they considered appropriate,” he said referring to his defeat in the election.
Mannan went to Ajmat’s house around 6:15pm yesterday, but Ajmat was not at home at that time.
BNP executive committee member Hasan Uddin Sarker and Gazipur Upazila Chairman Shahen Shah Alam had accompanied him, said Masud Rana, personal secretary to Mannan, last night.
“Mannan will go to Ajmat’s house again around 11:00am tomorrow [today],” he added.
The Gazipur city was calm yesterday, and no incident of violence took place there.
Source: The Daily Star