UNB, Kushtia :
Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Wednesday said BNP’s apprehension about manipulation of upazila elections is nothing but a political trick.
“The voting is being held fairly as the government is strongly maintaining its impartial role. Spreading the fear of vote fraud is nothing but a political trick,” he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after casting his vote in the upazila election at Damkudia High School polling station in Bheramara upazila at about 11am.
Turning to dialogue issue, Inu said the government is always sincere to have a solution to the present political crisis through negotiations, but BNP does not want to do so.
Accusing BNP of not following the constitutional process, the minister said BNP is an unpredictable party. “Sometimes it joins an election and boycotts another. “The party doesn’t like the constitutional process. It’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia actually always against elections.”
The voting at 175 polling stations in Kushtia sadar and Bheramara upazilas are being held peacefully, but with poor voter turnout.
Only 137 votes out of 2910 were cast till 12:35pm at Katha Bidyapith Polling Station at Pashchim Mazampur in Kushtia sadar. But the voter turnout in Bheramara upazila was relatively satisfactory as long queues of female voters were seen at noon at Brittipara Govt Primary School Centre in Bheramara.
Many minority community voters were also seen exercising their franchise amid tight security measures.
Four chairman, three vice chairman and two vice chairman contenders from reserved post are contesting the polls in sadar upazilas, while six chairman, three vice chairman and four reserved vice chairman candidates are in the election race in Bheramara upazila. There are 1,65,140 voters in Sadar upazila and 64678 in Bheramara.
