& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Victory for people, says new mayor Procession comes under JCD attack

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg
The port city wore a festive look yesterday as tens of thousands took to the streets celebrating the record third consecutive election of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury as their city father.
Men, women and many children as well from all quarters of the city flowed to the afternoon victory rally of Mohiuddin, mayoral candidate of the opposition-backed Nagorik Committee, at the city's historic Laldighi Maidan. Most of them reached the venue in small processions and many others by buses and trucks.
"All roads lead to Laldighi Maidan this afternoon," a jubilant fan of Mohiuddin exclaimed as hired musical bands accompanied many of the processions heading for the Maidan. Although his prime challenger, ruling 4-party alliance candidate Mir Nasir, yesterday urged his supporters to accept the poll results and to stay calm, a group of them attacked Mohiuddin's supporters riding in two trucks towards the victory rally at around 4:45pm. However, no one was injured in the incident, according to a spot account.
"This is a victory of Chittagong. This is a victory of its people," Mohiuddin told the mammoth rally, amid incessant slogans for his election symbol hurricane-lantern.
The re-elected city mayor expressed his gratitude to all, saying, "It's you, the people of Chittagong, who made possible this victory for me by resisting the evil forces courageously."
"I will remain ever grateful to you," he promised the roaring human sea.
Mohiuddin warned the ruling coalition of dire consequences of spreading communalism and said, "From now on, those who speak ill of the religious minorities will have to face severe reprisal."
He lambasted the returning officer (RO) and some other officials of the local administration, alleging, "At the behest of the ruling coalition candidate Mir Nasir, the RO tried to manipulate the CCC polls."
The mayor of the country's commercial capital reiterated his commitment to fulfil his 40-point election manifesto and said I know how to solve the power and water crises.
"If the government allows me to execute my plans, I am confident of resolving the water and power crises of this city of 40 lakh in six months time," he declared.
The mayor also vowed to implement the 'City Government' concept, if the government permits. "I will implement the concept in two months in collaboration with the Water and Sewerage Authority, Chittagong Development Authority and other agencies," he promised the cheering crowd.
Mohiuddin announced to bring out a formal victory procession on May 15 Sunday and invited all to join it.
Speaking at the rally, Awami League Presidium Member Motiya Chowdhury expressed the hope that the 'hat-trick-man' would keep his promises to the voters, reminding the mayor that almighty Allah doesn't like promise-breakers.
AL Joint General Secretary (GS) Obaidul Quader said the people of Chittagong were the protagonists of this historic win. "Besides, it was Mohiuddin Chowdhury's magic, not ours, that earned the victory."
Nagorik Committee Secretary General Dr Abu Yousuf chaired the rally. Saifuddin Ahmed Manik of CPB, Dilip Barua of Samyabadi Dal, lawmakers Shahjahan Khan, Bir Bahadur and Rafiqul Anwar, AL leaders Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu and Mosharraf Hossain, former lawmaker Harunur Rashid, Sylhet Mayor Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran and Chittagong District Bar GS Humayun Kabir Russel also addressed it.
A written statement of Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, who was scheduled to attend the rally but could not, was read out, in which he congratulated the mayor's hat-trick victory.
VOTERS GUARD THEIR VERDICT
The city life started a little late yesterday morning as most of its citizens passed almost a sleepless night monitoring the election results.
Whether on streets or at home, their eyes on Monday night remained glued on TV channels broadcasting the updated poll results.
"We've proved that no one can alter people's verdict if they remain alert," said Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, an elderly man at Laldighi Maidan rally. Like thousands of others, he spent the night in front of the RO office.
ATTACK ON RALLY TRUCKS
A group of youths, mostly members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, chased and threw stones at two trucks carrying Mohiuddin's fans to the rally ground near Kazir Dewri crossing at about 4:45pm.
The unruly supporters of the defeated mayoral candidate in Monday's Chittagong City Corporation polls launched the attack from Enesel Bhaban, the election office of Mir Nasir. They also hurled abusive words to the truck riders.
Hearing the news, Mir Nasir rushed to the spot and pacified the angry JCD activists.
The supporters of Mir Nasir also demonstrated inside Enesel Bhaban blaming some of the BNP leaders' betrayal for the defeat. Mir Nasir later at a meeting with the party workers asked them to avoid violence and promised to convey their grievances to the party high command in Dhaka.
Mir Nasir left Chittagong last evening for Dhaka.