Dhaka: Describing Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) elections as free and fair ones, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the people of Narayanganj gave a befitting reply to the allegations BNP had been making over the last few days.

"The BNP has been making allegations that free, fair and neutral elections are not possible during the Awami League government. But the people of Narayanganj have given a befitting reply to that allegations by holding the NCC polls free and fair," she said.

The premier added: "The NCC elections were excellent polls and I congratulate and thank the people of Narayanganj as well as Awami League leaders and workers and other concerned for holding the polls in a free, fair and neutral manner." 

The prime minister came up with the remarks when newly elected Narayanganj city mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy met her at her official residence Ganabhaban in the evening.

She also accused BNP of promoting terrorism and militancy, and stalling the country’s development activities while in power.

"They’d made stagnant the country’s development after assuming office. They made their own fortune engaging in corruption and looting…they instigated terrorism and militancy. Even they burned people to death while in opposition. What right do they (BNP leaders) have to seek votes?" she said.

She said those who have people’s mandates were elected in the polls at various tiers during the AL tenure.

Pointing at the victory of five BNP-backed candidates in as many city corporations during the AL tenure, Hasina posed a question, “How could the BNP candidates win the polls if there had been vote rigging?”

Terming the NCC polls as 'excellent', she extended her thanks to the people of Narayanganj, AL leaders and workers and all related to the polls, including the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies and administration, for holding the election in such a peaceful, fair and neutral manner.

Noting that it was her firm directives that that NCC polls should have to be held in a peaceful, fair and neutral manner so that voters could exercise their franchise, she said, "I had trust on the people of Narayanganj that they would vote for 'boat' and they did so."

About BNP’s demand for judicial probe into the election result and vote rigging, the prime minister said, "They’re saying so as they have to say something but they have to issue.”

She also said how BNP can raise such a demand as it was born through illegal power grabbed by Ziaur Rahman, violating the Constitution, vote rigging and election manipulation.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP leaders and workers should express their gratitude to people for not facing their wraths for their oppression and torture.

Talking about the voter-less February 15 election and vote rigging in Magura, Tejgaon and Mirpur bye-elections, she said many learned persons are now saying many things. "Perhaps their memory is low, so they’ve lost those memories."

In a scathing attack on BNP chief Khaleda Zia for making the convicted war criminals ministers and unbridled corruption, money laundering, looting committed by herself, her sons and other BNP leaders, she wondered, "How could they show their faces before the nation? How can people cast their votes for BNP?"

The prime minister said the continuity of development will be maintained with the victory of Ivy.

She also asked the AL leaders and workers, including those from Narayanganj, to work together as they did in the NCC polls from their respective positions for the sake of the party and the country.

Extending her heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for keeping her trust on her, Ivy said the NCC election proves that free and fair election is possible under Sheikh Hasina. "The people of Narayanganj have showed what democracy is?"

She also dedicated her victory to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and all the martyrs extending her thanks to the people of Narayanganj and AL leaders and workers for such emphatic win.

At the beginning of the function, Ivy handed over a boat decorated with flowers to Sheikh Hasina. In response, Sheikh Hasina warmly received Ivy and kissed her on her forehead.

Awami League mayoral candidate Dr Selina Hayat Ivy was unofficially reelected NCC mayor defeating BNP contestant Sakhawat Hossain Khan by a big margin of 79,567 votes in the Thursday’s election.

According to the unofficial results, Ivy bagged 175,611 votes while Sakhawat polled 96,044.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader along with Ivy was present at the dais while AL joint general secretary Dr Dipu Moni conducted the function.

AL central executive committee members and leaders of Narayanganj city unit AL were present.