- Title: BANGLADESH: POLITICS - Counting of votes in presidential election
- Date: 17th November 1981
- Summary: DACCA, BANGLADESH (VISNEWS - PREM PRAKASH) GV PAN EXTERIOR Polling station SV INTERIOR Acting President Abdus Sattar voting SV INTERIOR Dr. Kamal Hussein, votes and shakes hands with officials SV INTERIOR Opening ballot boxes CU PULL BACK TO SV Vote counting (2 shots) SV ZOOM TO SCU Acting President Abdus Sattar speaking SPEECH (TRANSCRIPT) SATTAR: "One of the most significant aspects of this election is that the people have emphatically given their verdict against policies of violence, coercion and exploitation; it is a verdict for peace, stability, progress and the rule of law pursued so assiduously during the time of President Ziaur Rahman as well as after his death, by the present government. It is now clear that the people have overwhelmingly given their verdict in favour of the Presidential system of government."
- Embargoed: 2nd December 1981 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bangladesh, Bangladesh
- City:
- Country: Bangladesh
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4X6HU2XRKQ7F773K4JJSXUWYF
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: INTRODUCTION: The Bangladesh Presidential election has been an overwhelming victory for Acting President Abdus Sattar. Mr. Sattar, a member of the ruling Bangladesh National Party (BNP) was a close colleague of the former President, Ziair Rahman, who was assassinated last May. Mr. Sattar has promised to carry on the policies of the late president and to keep Bangladesh in the non-aligned movement.
SYNOPSIS: The ruling Bangladesh National Party built up an unbeatable lead of more than seven million votes in the country's Presidential elections. Although counting is not finished a landslide victory is forecast. Seventy-five year old Abdus Sattar is a former judge and has been acting Chief of State since the murder of President Rahman in the army mutiny.
Dr. Kamal Hussein, who heads the Awami League opposition party, is a former lawyer and during the election campaign blamed the current leadership for the nation's economic crisis. The government claimed the Awami League, if elected, would establish a one party state while nationalizing major industries and the press.
Dr. Hussein has already alleged that the election result was rigged and claims his supporters were continuously harassed by the ruling party, the BNP. The Awami League has promised to launch a programme of constitutional protest at the way the government carried on during the election campaign.
However, observers believe the Army, always a strong force in the politics of Bangladesh, will ban any open display of unrest organised by the League. For the Acting President, Mr. Sattar, the result of the presidential vote was a vindication of his party's policies.
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