BNP will lay siege to the offices of Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) across the country on Thursday protesting what it said the widespread terrorism, capturing of polling stations and vote rigging by the ruling party men during the fourth phase of upazila elections held on Sunday.
The party will also submit memoranda, containing its demands, to the UNO offices on the day.
BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the agitation programme at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.
“The widespread violence, including bloodshed and killing, during the fourth phase of the upazila polls has broken the all previous records. The incidents of stuffing ballot boxes at midnight, grabbing polling stations, snatching ballot boxes and torching ballots were almost seen everywhere. The government overturned the results into their favour through vote dacoity,” he said.
The BNP leader came down hard on the Election Commission for what he said its biased and subservient role, “An Election Commissioner complained against a minister for breaching the election code of conduct. It has exposed how much the commission is loyal to the government. As per the constitution, the Commission itself can take action against any body for violation of the code of conduct. But they can’t exert their power and take action.”
Criticising Prime Minister’s adviser HT Imam for his claim that Sunday’s balloting was free and fair, Rizvi said, “How come he made such a claim after the widespread vote rigging and killing of people. It’s really strange.”
Earlier on March 20, the party men laid siege to the Deputy Commissioners’ (DCs) offices across the country and submitted memorandums protesting what it had said the grabbing of polling stations and election manipulation by the ruling party men during the third phase of upazila elections held on March 15.
Replying to a question, Rizvi said BNP policymakers will finalise their action programme against the vote fraud and snatching of people’s verdict after the fifth phase of the local body election.
Source: UNBConnect
