BNP raises objection to Janipop’s Kalimullah

BNP on Saturday demanded that the election commission not allow Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of Jatiya Nirbachon Parjabekkhon Parishad (Janipop), as an observer in the 11th parliamentary polls slated for 30 December, reports UNB.

In a letter sent to chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda, the party claimed that Kalimullah, who is also the vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, is an activist of a particular political party.

BNP also claimed that the Janipop chairman participated in the election campaign for Awami League’s probable mayoral candidate Rashek Rahman in the Rangpur City Corporation election.

A BNP delegation, led by Moudud Ahmed, submitted the letter signed by its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to the CEC.

Janipop (National Election Observation Council) is registered with the election commission as an election monitoring organisation.

Kalimullah, nephew of Awami League leader Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, has broken his impartiality taking part in the election campaign in favour of a mayoral candidate of a political party, the letter reads.

Kalimullah said he has no political connections with his maternal uncle Alamgir. “Is it my fault to be his nephew?” he said.

He also denied the allegation of joining the election campaign for a probable mayoral candidate, saying Rashek Rahman was not a candidate at all.

Noting that Rashek Rahman brought cricket star Shakib Al Hasan to Rokeya University, Kalimullah said he, being the vice-chancellor of the university, just allowed students’ gathering to see Shakib, who is an icon of the new generation.

“Had it been a BNP or Jatiya Party man instead of Rashek Rahman, my behaviour would have been the same,” he said.

The Janipop chairman said BNP brought the same allegation several times in the past, too.