DHAKA Oct. 18, Reuter: Japan’s Prime Minister, Yasuhiro Nakasone, and Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul Haq today congratulated President Hussain Mohammad Ershad on his election victory last Wednesday.
Ina message, circulated by the official BSS News Agency, Nakasone said Ershad victory would strengthen bilateral relations and censure Bangladesh’s prosperity.
“The people of Bangladesh would (experience) further development and prosperity under your leadership,” he said.
Zia and he visualized a “bright and prosperous future under the dynamic leadership of President Ershad”.
Ershad won 84 per cent of the votes cast on October 15.
Opposition leaders, diplomats and witnesses said they believed the turnout was abnormally low because the country was paralyzed by a national strike called by the opposition.
Sheikh Hasina, Chief of the opposition Awami league, said Thon was “nothing but a fraud”.
“It was a classic example of a voter less election. Ballots were cast in millions while no one could see even one voter at the polling center” she said.
Ershad has denied the election was rigged.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 24, 1986
