All polls under party’s banner: Sajeeb Wazed Joy

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s IT adviser expressed this view at a meeting with party supporters in his ancestral home ‘Joy Sadan’ in Rangpur’s Pirganj on Monday.
Local Government Minister Syed Ashraful Islam had also hinted the law could be amended to allow the holding of Upazila elections along party lines.
Joy questioned the justification of keeping Upazila polls outside the ambit of political parties.
“In the US, all elections involve political parties. Same is the case in Europe, Canada and India," he said.
“We should revoke the law formulated by the dictators and ensure all polls are held along party lines.”
Joy claimed the BNP-backed chairman candidates led in the first three phases of Upazila polls but the Awami League-supported candidates were ahead in terms of votes.
“The Awami League got many votes. It might not have got seats for some reasons.”
Dismayed by the victory of Jamaat-endorsed candidates in many Upazilas, he said, “It is shameful that Jamaat, which is banned by law, is taking part in the election.”
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Whip Iqbalur Rahim also spoke at the meeting.
Joy went to Rangpur on Sunday on a two-day visit.
This was his first visit to Rangpur, his home district, since the Awami League came to power for the second straight term.
Joy flew to Syedpur and then went to the Rangpur Circuit House by road.
On Sunday, he attended a public meeting at the Rangpur Zila School ground.
He also held a meeting with local Awami League leaders at Rangpur Circuit House.
Then he spent the night at his ancestors’ home at Laldighi Fatehpur village in Rangpur’s Pirganj.
Joy visited the grave of his late father Wazed Miah on Monday morning.
He also cut a cake to celebrate the 94th birth anniversary of his maternal grandfather Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Joy left for Syedpur airport around 11am on his way back to Dhaka.