Fakhrul claimed the current Election Commission had failed to perform its duty as an independent and constitutional body.
BNP on Friday expressed fears that the elections to the Sylhet, Rajshahi and Barisal city corporations would turn into a farce, as the Election Commission (EC) has failed to create the necessary atmosphere for democratic elections.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also said their party is eager to engage in talks with Awami League over the next general election.
“We are embarrassed to talk about the polls with local government bodies, as the city corporation elections have turned into a farce. The government is showing the people a bioscope about the city polls,” he added, as quoted by UNB.
The BNP leader further said: “We demand that the Election Commission take necessary steps to create a proper atmosphere, as well as release our arrested leaders and activists, so that credible and neutral polls can be held in the three cities.”
Fakhrul claimed the current Election Commission had failed to perform its duty as an independent and constitutional body.
He alleged that ruling party leaders were violating the election code of conduct and obstructing the campaigns of BNP in the
three cities. “Opposition leaders and activists are being arrested regularly.”
Meanwhile, the BNP leader also said that the party had failed to reach an agreement with Jamaat over the latter fielding their own mayoral candidate in Sylhet.
However, Fakhrul added that he hoped the party candidate would be successful even without Jamaat’s support.
“BNP needs to not depend on any party to win the polls, as it is a self-reliant party,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
