Sylhet Representative/

Current mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury has announced not to participate in Sylhet city elections. He made this announcement in a civic gathering on Saturday. At that time, he referred to the upcoming Sylhet city election as a ‘farce election’ and urged the citizens not to participate in it.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury criticized various activities of the Election Commission and the government in a 45-minute speech at the historical registry ground of Sylhet city at 3:30 pm. However, he is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the late Finance Minister Abul Mal Muhit and the local parliament member Foreign Minister Dr. Appreciated Abdul Momen.

In an emotional speech, Arif said that plans have already been made on how to steal votes. How to select farce has also been finalized.

He said, I haven’t announced till now whether I will vote. But before that, our activists are being arrested.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury said, ‘I do politics in the name of martyred President Ziaur Rahman. I will not take any decision that harms the team as long as I live. There is no environment for elections under the current government. Therefore, I boycotted this election with the advice of former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman, my mother and respected scholars. I will always be by your side. Many people told me to go home and save us. When I was in jail on a false case, you were by my side. I can’t forget those words.’

Before the rally, the Mayor walked from his residence to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA). Mazar reached the registry ground with the leaders and workers after the pilgrimage.

Even though BNP did not go to the polls, Ariful Haque Chowdhury kept the issue of candidacy hanging for the past one month. He was supposed to announce on April 16 whether he will contest the election after returning from the UK, but he did not announce it for a month. As a result, the people of the city were eager to know his decision. Arif announced that he will not participate in the city elections by calling a civic meeting on Saturday.