Local government elections will be held in strict accordance with the Constitution, newly appointed Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said on Sunday.

He made the remarks while exchanging greetings and views with heads of various organisations and departments under the ministry and media representatives at the Secretariat.

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the programme.

Moyeen Khan said the BNP-led government would ensure that local government elections were conducted in accordance with constitutional provisions.

"We are called a cantonment party, but it was the Awami League that killed democracy. Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman restored democracy," he said.

The minister said the incumbent government would not hold elections in the manner of those conducted under the previous government.

Govt vows zero tolerance for corruption

Speaking about corruption, Moyeen Khan said the government would not tolerate graft and that action would be taken against those involved in corruption through the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) following due legal procedures.

He said the BNP did not believe in the politics of revenge.

"We do not believe in the politics of revenge. We want to establish a legal system," he said.