Accusing the government of exerting influence, two senior opposition MPs on Thursday demanded army deployment during the elections to four city corporations enabling the voters to exercise their franchise without fear.
Standing on point of order, BNP MP and opposition acting chief whip M Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee (Laxmipur-3) said government-backed cadres, ministers and MPs are trying to influence the city corporations’ polls for manipulating the results in their favour.
The four city corporations – Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal – go to polls on Saturday.
“Voters are scared. There’re showdowns of arms. All are there in the election areas. But we’re facing quorum crisis here in Parliament,” Anee lamented.
He demanded army deployment without any delay to ensure free, fair and credible polls ensuring voters’ fear-free presence in polling stations.
In protest, treasury bench senior member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2) said BNP is coming up with lame excuses sensing their sure defeat in the polls.
“The present government has never influenced the Election Commission. There was no vote rigging in any election. So, such statement shouldn’t be made. BNP is sure of its defeat because they’ve got scared of a mass wave created in favour of Awami League in the four city corporations,” he said.
Fazlul Karim Selim urged BNP to cooperate with the Election Commission instead of raising excuses.
BNP MP Jafrul Islam Chowdhury (Chittagong-15) said the ruling party is trying to influence the polls and the reports of the newspapers and televisions are the evidence.
“We don’t want to talk about the past. We’re urging the Election Commission through you (Speaker) to ensure free, fair and credible polls in the four city corporations,” he said.
Jafrul Islam also urged the EC through Speaker to deploy army in the four city corporations so that the voters can exercise their voting rights without any fear.
“We‘re there in the city corporation polls to cooperate with the EC and also to monitor what role the EC is playing… if the four city corporation polls are held peacefully and fairly, BNP will come out winners with big margins,” the BNP leader told the House.
Advocate M Fazle Rabbi Miah (Gaibandha-5) said the city corporation polls will be free, fair and credible.
“Wait and see. Let’s see what happens. The Election Commission is independent. The opposition has no scope to interfere in the EC,” he said.
Fazle Rabbi said Awami League candidates will win the polls, and the voters will be able to cast their votes freely. “There was no Magura-type election during the present government.”
Source: UNB Connect
