‘Democracy upheld, people the ultimate winners’

Mayor elect ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury hopeful for a third term. PHOTO: STAR

"The election is unique in many ways. The most salient feature is democracy was upheld despite few attempts of unfair means. The people's desire and the verdict weren't defeated as well," said poet Quamrul Hassan Badal.

He finds people as the ultimate winners in this 'historic' election as they overcame all kinds of pressures and lures.'

Member of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance (Fema) Md Imam Hossain Chowdhury discovers laudable roles of the Chief Election Commissioner, local political leaders, the army and police.

Imam is little doubtful whether the positive features of CCC polls will have any impact in the next parliamentary elections. "Yet, this particular election has delivered many lessons for our politicians," he observes.

AKM Jashim Uddin, AVP and Manager of Mutual Trust Bank CDA Avenue Branch, thinks the CCC election has many reasons to be an exemplary one.

"First of all, it established once again that people are the rightful owners of their votes. Secondly, the voters weren't worried at all about the reports on manipulation, rumours or other indications and exercised their franchise freely. Thirdly, it gave stunning impressions that an election can be won without terrorism and criminals' help," he sums up.

Mohammad Hossain, a computer engineer, believes Mohiuddin Chowdhury's personal image has earned victory for him.

"It is his personal image, not partisan identity that made the win so easy. The election proved another fact -- the candidate has got to be honest and pro-people to win any election," Hossain said adding that the CCC polls was held in a free and fair manner.