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Munshiganj By-polls Result

Boost for opposition, worry for BNP

Shakhawat Liton
By-polls debacle of the BNP in Munshiganj-1 has sent a sense of worry in the key ruling party and emboldened the opposition in the anti-government movement and in fighting the next Dhaka-10 byelection.
Opposition parties yesterday termed Sunday’s result as a reflection of people's verdict against the misrule of the four-party coalition, while BNP leaders said defeat in a seat did not mean the popularity of the government was on the wane.
The opposition, including the Awami League (AL), lent support to Bikalpa Dhara candidate Mahi B Chowdhury and is likely to follow the same line in Dhaka-10 by-polls.
Despite putting on a brave face on the polls defeat, BNP leaders said they were worried about Dhaka-10 by-polls and were thinking of holding the election as early as possible before the opposition unity consolidated.
A victory in the capital will prove the government has not lost its popularity, they believe.
According to the plan to hasten
Dhaka-10 by-polls, the Election Commission and the returning officer will not contest the case.
If the High Court (HC) directs the returning officer to allocate 'Kula’ (winnowing fan) symbol to Bikalpa Dhara candidate retired army major Abdul Mannan, the order will be carried out without filing any appeal.
The by-election was slated for June 6 along with the Munshiganj constituency, but the HC stayed the polls until Junel2 over the symbol dispute. The seats fell vacant when Mahi and Mannan resigned from the Jatiya Sangsad and the BNP on March 10 to join the Bikalpa Dhara, founded by former president Badruddoza Chowdhury.
Talking to The Daily Star, some BNP lawmakers said the victory of BNP candidate Mosaddak Ali from Dhaka was a must to turn the tide in favour of the ruling alliance.
They felt a defeat would spur the opposition parties to question the government's moral authority to rule.
BNP Vice-chairman M Shamsul Islam, a lawmaker for Munshiganj-3, brushed aside the opposition claim that Munshiganj-1 brought to light the government's poor popularityform.
"People's opinion has not been reflected in the Munshiganj-1 byelection as the Bikalpa Dhara activists captured some polling centres and rigged votes," Shamsul, also the information minister, told The Daily Star.
'ERODING POPULARITY'
Immediately after unofficial declaration of Mahi's victory on Sunday night, Badruddoza, who was forced to quit the presidency under impeachment threats, said it was a victory against unbridled crime, corruption and price spiral of essentials underthe coalition.
AL Presidium Member Abdus Samad Azad said the ruling party's failure to win the by-election despite rigging votes showed the government's eroding popularity.
"The result of the by-election proves the government has lost people's confidence and supports our demand for midterm polls," Mohammad Hanif, Dhaka City AL president told a discussion yesterday.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon also echoed the same view, saying it would spur the opposition movement against the
government.
"It has also proved people's unity triumphs against misrule despite all odds and obstacles. So far we know, BNP men tried to win the seat capturing polling stations and using threats, out failed."
But coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami begged to differ.
"Weak candidate in Mahi's family borough and Awami League's full-backing resulted in the alliance defeat," Abdul Kader Mollah, publicity secretary of the party, toldTheDailyStar.
"It was virtually no loss to the government, but a victory could contribute to its image," he said, adding, "The alliance was working seriously to retain Dhaka-10 seat." STRONGWATCH
Poll experts believe mounted media and observers' watch helped people uphold their verdict in Munshiganj-1 constituency despite attempts by the supporters of BNP candidate Momin Ali to rig the votes.
Several hundred poll watchers and journalists moved frequently from one polling centre to another during the prestige electoral clash between the ruling alliance and the Bikalpa Dhara.
They entered polling centres in large groups, asked election officials including presiding officers about the irregularities they saw and cross-checked every bit of information they got from voters and local residents.
The authorities deployed two companies of army men, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and police in force to ensure peace in the constituency where all the 89 polling centres were marked as vulnerable by the district administration.
But experts say it was the media and poll watchers who helped ensure largely fair polls in the constituency.