Senior BNP lawmaker Barrister Moudud Ahmed on Sunday demanded gazette notifications on the results of the recently-held elections to four city corporations and immediate handing over the charges to the elected mayors by administering their oaths.
“It seems there is a conspiracy to nullify people’s mandate as there are no gazette notifications yet on the results of the elections. We demand handing over of the responsibilities to the newly elected mayors through oath-taking within a week,” he said in Parliament, taking the floor on a point of order.
Citing media reports, Moudud, a BNP Standing Committee member, said they came to know that the responsibilities of the newly elected mayors of the four city corporations will be handed over in October when the tenure of the outgoing mayors was scheduled to expire. “If so, why the elections were held? Who are running the corporations now?”
He said he had never heard of such a thing in the past and mentioned that it would not be prudent to deprive the new mayors from discharging their duties.
“If there is any specific reason, it needs to be informed in the House. Arrange oath for the elected mayors. The Prime Minister is supposed to administer the oaths. But it’s up to her,” Moudud said.
He warned that if the process of oath-taking is delayed further, the distrust of the government and the Election Commission will be stronger.
The BNP lawmaker also expressed concern saying that they came to know that the government is planning to give deputy minister status to the mayors instead of the existing state minister status. “If the mayors are not given due status, people’s mandate will be shown disrespect.”
Questioning the role of the Election Commission, Moudud said they want the national election under a non-party, neutral government.
Opposing Moudud’s viewpoint, Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta said it is the Local Government Ministry which will decide who will be given what status. He said: “There’s no link with the government in this regard. His (Moudu’ds) speech is politically motivated.”
Suranjit said: “It is proved that the Election Commission is neutral and stronger as there was no interference from the government in holding the polls to the four city corporations.”
Source: UNBConnect
