United News of Bangladesh

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the country is set to have an elected government and parliament through the ongoing national election. “None had imagined the voting would be so festive. The enthusiasm and interest of the people are remarkable. I have visited around a hundred polling centres throughout the day. The election has been held very peacefully and beautifully,” he told reporters while visiting Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School polling centre on Thursday afternoon. Expressing optimism about the outcome, Fakhrul said he believes the results will be positive. “This year, the people will get an elected government and parliament — something we have struggled for over the past 16 years,” he said. He also stated that he is quite optimistic about winning the election. According to the sources, a total of 20 candidates, including two women, are contesting in the three parliamentary constituencies of Thakurgaon district. Mirza Fakhrul casts his vote Among them, three candidates are contesting in Thakurgaon-1, seven in Thakurgaon-2 and ten in Thakurgaon-3. There are 12,55,017 voters including 5,98,488 women and 6,70,022 men and seven transgender voters in the district. Besides, 10,292 voters have registered to cast their ballots through postal voting, including 2,326 women and 7,966 men.

BNP Secretary General and Thakurgaon-1 constituency candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said his party would ensure the safety and security of Hindu community people  if it comes to power. “Some people are trying to divide Hindus and Muslims  but there is no scope for such division. We live together and will continue to do so,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul Islam made the remarks Friday afternoon during election campaign at Sholtihori Bazar in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Addressing a series of rallies and roadside meetings from afternoon to evening at Sholothori, 11 Mile, Bairagi, Paysafela, Munshirhat and Debipur in Sadar upazila, Fakhrul urged voters to support BNP in the upcoming national election. He said over the last 15 years ballots were cast the night before elections or taken away, depriving people of their voting rights. “Now an opportunity is coming. Our Hasina Apa has gone to India. It is good that she has left, but she has put those who supported her  in danger. We are saying that no innocent person will face any trouble. We are standing by them. Those who have done no wrong will not be punished,” Fakhrul said. He said Jamaat-e-Islami has never governed the country while BNP is a tested party. “Only BNP, with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, can deliver development. No one else can,” he said. He said BNP activists are  ‘soldiers of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia’ who have always stood by the people in times of distress. BNP awaits landslide victory; some parties don’t want election: Fakhrul Making voters alert ahead of the February 12 election,Fakhrul said, “One party asking for votes with Scales symbols. Have they ever formed a government? Have they done any work for you? They have not. We have governed before and worked for the people.” Emphasising communal harmony Fakhrul said he works with people of all religions—Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians—and wants to ensure equal security for everyone.