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Opposition finds new strength

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury's victory in the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) polls has given confidence to the opposition parties now agitating for reforms in the caretaker government system and Election Commission (EC).
Leaders of mainstream parties said the debacle of ruling alliance candidate Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin in the prestigious election that shows signs of frustrations among people would also boost the antigovernment movement.
They believe various controversies and irregularities in the appointment of polling officers for the CCC polls and the role of EC secretariat and the police have given validity to their demands for urgent reforms in the EC.
Senior leaders of the opposition parties, who see the CCC election results as a reflection of people's verdict against the misrule of the four-party coalition, hope they would successfully continue the combined movement for reforms.
Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in a statement said people have once again rejected the BNP-Jamaat government through this election. "This verdict is against the sheer failure of the alliance government in every sphere, including price hike of essentials, criminal activities and politicisation," she said.
Gono Forum President and Jatiya Oikya Mancha chief Dr Kamal Hossain termed Mohiuddin's victory "a win for 14 crore people."
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad said people's verdict in the CCC polls, though a local government election, would impact on the next national election.
Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jalil said the government was fully prepared to snatch the victory, but people's unity and strong protest have foiled the conspiracy. "It is a great victory of people," he said.
The 11-Party alliance in a statement said this victory would expedite the movement against the Khaleda-Nizami government. "The helplessness of the Election Commission was exposed through this polls and our demands for reforms of the caretaker government and the Election Commission have been strengthened," it said.
The AL and its allies in the movement for reforms are now preparing to step up the combined movement cashing in on the CCC poll results.
AL working committee sits tomorrow to finalise its reform proposals on caretaker government and the EC. After finalising the individual proposals, the parties will make a combined proposal on reforms, sources said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh President Manjurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim in a statement yesterday urged people to gear up the movement for bringing reforms in the caretaker government and EC.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and General Secretary Bimal Biswas in a statement said it has now become a national duty to strengthen the movement for reforms to hold the future elections in a free and fair manner.
About the CCC polls, they said, "It has also proved people's unity against misrule. The BNP men tried to win the election capturing polling stations, but failed."
"The Chittagong City Corporation polls proved that the four-party alliance can be defeated by unity among the democratic and non-communal forces. We will do everything to continue this spirit until the next parliamentary elections," AL Organising Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury yesterday told The Daily Star.